BY KERRY L. PINTO

Generally, I don't do anything to my car unless some fancy button lights up on my dash reminding me to do so. This was actually a requirement when we purchased our car last year. Does it have a light for an oil change? Tire pressure? When I am almost out of coffee in my travel mug? Alas, I digress.

With the excessive heat of summer upon us, there are some proactive steps to take in order to ensure your car runs well throughout the season.

Wax On, Wax Off

Sunlight, UV radiation, acid rain, salt, dirt and air pollution can damage your vehicle and paint.

"Cleaning the salt/debris/road grime is important to the life of your car for the simple reason of preventing corrosion," says Sean Raniella, collision technician at Professional Collision Center in Stafford. "Almost any and all road grime has some amount of salt in it. You mix that salt with rain water and you have the perfect substance to corrode your car. Water can get through the smallest opening. That stone chip on your hood. The scratch on your door. When you regularly wash and wax your car, you are stopping or at the least slowing the corrosion down."

The Car Care Council, an organization that provides car care tips to drivers, recommends that you wash your vehicle every six weeks and wax every six months.

Tires

Singer Roy Orbison once said, "I may be a living legend, but that sure don't help when I've got to change a flat tire."

I hear you, brother. I am not a celebrity and the thought of changing my own tire is daunting.

To help prevent the need to do so, tires need additional care in warm weather as high temperatures put added stress on them.

"People neglect to check the tires and drive on virtually bald tires in the rainy months," Raniella adds. "Not many people give the rain its due, but it creates more accidents than snow. People aren't afraid of rain. Really get down and check the inside, too. Improper alignment can lead to uneven wear causing the dreaded blowout."

To maximize tire life and safety, check the tire condition and inflation pressure monthly —tire pressure recommendations are generally found on the driver side door or an owner manual. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 miles. Summer heat will cause the pressure within a tire to rise, therefore, it's important to check the pressure when tires are cold.

Wipers and Wiper Fluid

You're going down the road and splat! A bug hits your windshield. You press the wiper fluid button only to find that it's dry and suddenly your wipers and just streaking the bug across your windshield.

In order to prevent this unsightly scenario from occurring, it's a good idea to top off your wiper fluid and replace your wipers this season. Harsh winters can be harsh on your wipers, causing them to dry out. This is also true for the summer conditions, so it is also recommended that you replace your wipers after the heat of the summer.

Travel Kit

You never know when the unexpected might happen during a family road trip, or more likely, you get stuck on I-95. When getting your car ready for the summer, don't forget to pack a travel kit to keep inside your vehicle. Suggestions for what to pack include:

• Drinking water
• Snack packs (especially if you have kids)
• Sun block
• Hand sanitizer
• Flashlight (that doesn't require batteries)
• First-aid kit
• Disposable camera (if cell phone doesn't have photo capabilities) for accidents
• An extra gallon of windshield wiper fluid, a gallon container with 50% coolant and 50% water and a couple of quarts of oil.
• Blanket/towel for unforeseen car fixes. Raniella adds, "The towel also doubles as a great sunshade for the kids trying to sleep on a longer trip."
• A multi-purpose tool 

Summer Maintenance

Regular maintenance keeps your vehicle running smoothly. Here are some recommendations for your vehicle, particularly in the summer:

• Check or replace your filters. "Many people forget about cabin filters. These filter the air entering your car. It helps with air freshness, as well as allows the blower fan to work more efficiently trying to cool the car down," Raniella said.
• Change your oil as needed.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a sunroof, check that the drains are working properly. Raniella adds, "Leaves and debris from the fall and winter can stop them up leading to a large water leak."
• Check brakes. "People travel much more and are generally out and about more with nicer weather and around here that means traffic and significantly more wear on the brakes. A quick check of the pads can be the difference of hundreds of dollars in a brake job," Raniella said.
• Check your belts and hoses for cracking and have them replaced if necessary.
• Check cooling system. If you haven't had the cooling system of your car flushed recently, do it now. This will help prevent your car from overheating.
• Check air conditioning system. (Doesn't it always seem to break in the summer?)
• Check your battery.
• Check to make sure your transmission services are up to date. "If you follow the manufacturer's recommendation, that hundred dollar service may save your thousands in repairs."

"It takes very little time and money to make sure your car runs properly during summer, and although breakdowns happen, they can definitely be minimized by taking a few extra preventive maintenance steps," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.