AN AUTOMOTIVE SUMMERIZATION

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Take a minute now to look at the belts that run the power steering and the emission control air pumps. Replace them if they're worn, and don't overtighten either one.

Tires and Shock Absorbers

Make this simple check: Push down sharply on the front bumper, then on the rear one. If they return with a bounce or don't rebound smoothly, your shocks are probably worn out. You can replace them yourself for the cost of the parts and several very dirty hours of your time. Or you can have them replaced in about 20 minutes at a tire store and pay about the same price if you catch a sale. Make your own choice.

Tires play by the same rules. You should make a very careful inspection of the tread and side walls. Wear in the center of the tread or at the edges (over- and underinflation), uneven wear (imbalance), bald strips across the face of the tread (wear indicators exposed) or badly bruised side walls (curb impact) are all good reasons to have the cause of the prob lem corrected and new tires installed if the damage is serious.

Switch radial tires front-to-back, never side-to-side.

If there are no obvious problems, consider rotating the tires yourself, for two reasons: One, they'll wear more evenly if swapped around. (Radial-ply tires must always spin in the same direction, and thus must be switched front-to-back, not side-to-side; biasply tires should be changed diagonally rearto-front, and the front tires moved straight to the rear.) Two, you'll learn through experience how to operate the jack and tire tools, and you'll be better able to loosen the lug nuts in an emergency if you, rather than an impact tool, tightened them. Finish up by inflating the tires, cold, to the pressures recommended by the car manufacturer.

Exhaust, Brake and Drive Parts

At some point you're going to have to resign yourself to getting under the car to complete your inspection. If you can do it without jacking the vehicle in the air, great. But you'll probably have to borrow jack stands or ramps to gain access to the lowest parts. Always chock the wheels that are still on the ground; never trust a jack alone.

First, examine the exhaust pipe, the muffler, the catalytic converter (it's smaller) and the tailpipe for holes or rust spots. Check the pipes for tightness and draw up on the hanger clamps if needed. Be especially critical of the gasket where the exhaust manifold joins the header pipe (right at the engine).

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