AN AUTOMOTIVE SUMMERIZATION

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Antifreeze no longer has that single wintertime function. It's now generally called coolant, and its concentration can be critical to pump lubrication and warm-weather driving. If it's been two or more years since you changed the coolant or the thermostat, consider taking your car to a service station for a back-flush, thermostat change and refill. Flushing kits are available to fit your garden hose if you want to tackle the job yourself. Otherwise, do without the cleaning, and at least top of the radiator (or partially fill the small recovery reservoir on newer cars) with a 50:50 mixture of coolant and water.

To drain the cooling system, bring the engine to operating temperature, then open the petcock at the bottom of the radiator or just remove the lower hose. Refill it with a half-and-half blend, or refer to the chart on the coolant container; it specifies the best mixture for your expected temperatures. Run the engine while refilling the system, and turn the heater on full to make sure the core fills properly. Finally, inspect the radiator cap for deterioration or leakage if it's the removable type, and clean the radiator fins of bugs, leaves and other road debris.

Ignition Tune-up

Modern cars equipped with electronic ignition go farther between tune-ups and require fewer replacement parts than older vehicles. But spark plugs and rotors do wear out eventually, so you may want to check these parts if you can't remember when they were last serviced. Carefully remove one cable boot from a spark plug, and unscrew the plug with a socket or plug wrench. (If you can't reach any easily, defer to a professional.) Check the ignition end of the plug for burned electrode tips, dark deposits or wetness. If any of these are present, you'll need to spring for a tune-up or diagnosis.

Next, remove the clips or screws from the plastic cap that holds the ignition cables. Lift the cap to look at its underside and the metaltipped rotor beneath it. If there's any sign of arcing or burning, get these parts replaced.

Unless you're comfortable doing tune-ups on conventional and electronic ignition systems, it's best to leave that work to a mechanic. Breaker-point systems require detailed adjustments, and electronic ignition parts can demand special handling.

Air Conditioning and Accessories

Even though it requires a trained technician to service AC systems, you can make some basic checks yourself. Examine the belt for tightness and signs of wear. See if the electric clutch kicks on when you slide the control lever to the maximum cooling position. Inspect and tighten the short copper ground cable on the compressor housing if one is visible. With the exception of belt replacement and screw tightening, any other woes are jobs for the pros.

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