AN AUTOMOTIVE SUMMERIZATION

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E-TIRES: Tread wear can tell a story if you know what to look for. If the rubber is in good shape, inflate the tires to the recommended pressure.

F-LIGHTS: It only takes a few moments to check headlights, taillights, etc.

G-EXHAUST: Get under the car and look for corrosion or looseness in the pipe, muffler or clamp components.

Safety first? It's a good practice, so let's start there. Turn on the headlights, and walk around the car to check each bulb. Test the high beams and brake lights (with the help of a friend). Try the turn signals and parking/side marker lights, too. If a lamp is burned out, be sure to replace it with one of the same type. To change a headlight on most cars, first remove the trim door around it; then loosen the lamp mounting screws, pull the bulb plug and put in the new unit. Don't turn the longer headlight alignment screws, or you'll need to re-aim the headlights. The taillights are usually accessed through removable panels in the trunk in modern cars. On older models, the lenses unscrew from the outside.

Blades, Breakers and Battery

Inspect the wiper blades for splits and deterioration. Replace them (by pinching the end clips together and sliding the flat spine through the four sets of hooked guides) if they're at all questionable. On some cars, you may need to change the blade and its holder by pressing the clip or button located at the end of the wiper arm. Now's also the time to fill up the washer reservoir with the recommended fluid and test the system.

Determine what type of fuses or breakers your electrical system uses by referring to the owner's manual or checking the fuse box beneath the driver's dashboard or on the inside or outside fire wall panel. Purchase spare fuses to match the three or four amperage ratings required. Check, as well, the operation of your fuel gauge. If it's broken or erratic, have it repaired before you travel.

Warm weather won't guarantee a troublefree battery. Time, corrosion and poor maintenance take their toll in any season. If there are deposits on the terminal posts and at the top of the battery, wash the areas with a solution of two tablespoons baking soda to one quart water. Is the corrosion well entrenched? Loosen the cable clamps, remove them from the posts with a cable puller or channel pliers, then clean the posts and the inside of the clamps with a small wire brush or a terminal tool. Don't hammer the clamps in place when you reattach them, or you may ruin the battery. If the cables have deteriorated and the wiring is exposed, replace them. Check, too, the cable connections at the engine block (or chassis) and at the starter solenoid. They should both be tight and free of dirt. Coat the posts and clamps with gasket sealer or petroleum jelly to inhibit future corrosion.

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