Inspection checklist for safe autumn driving

Summer vacations are over and the children are back in school. Your car has logged several thousand miles, hit some potholes and encountered a few flying pebbles along the way. Is a late-summer check-up needed?

Summer driving can create lingering problems for your vehicle‘s engine, tires, windshields and paint. Adjustments or repairs can fix minor nuisances before they become major problems. You also may want to prepare for the coming rains and snow.

“Start with a visual inspection,” suggested Tony Molla, vice president of communications at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. “Look for obvious damage or things like burned-out lights or cracked lenses or windows. The more complete list of minor repairs that you give to your service provider, the more satisfied you will be.”

ASE offers has some basic tips for fall car care:

• Summer sun can harden and crack wiper blades. Replace them before the first rains—otherwise you may find them on back-order.
• Check washer fluid to clean your windshield during early fall rains. Roads are the dirtiest in the fall after dust and grime collect on roads during the summer.
• Inspect tires as well as the spare. Use a pressure gauge to check air pressure. Worn tires don’t grip well, especially on slick roads during fall’s first rains.
• Inspect the jack. You can avoid hours of frustration on the roadside by having the right tools so you—or a passerby—have the emergency tools to help when stranded.
• Do you have any lingering problems from summer driving? If you hit some potholes during summer vacation, your car may need its alignment adjusted. Sometimes this shows up when the car tends to pull to one side or the other. Left unattended, it could damage the vehicle’s tires.
• Are you having engine performance problems (poor fuel economy, rough idling, slow acceleration or hard starts). Cool fall weather can exacerbate problems. For instance, an old battery that has trouble cranking the car in fall may go dead in winter. With every oil change, have the technician check on battery water levels.
• Do your headlights and taillights work properly? Are the high beams directed at the proper angle? Have a friend look at the brake lights as you press the pedal. Flash your headlights and high beams against a flat surface from level ground (inside your garage, for instance)
• Are the heater and defroster working properly? Turn on the heating system to check.
• Get the engine drive belts checked for wear and proper adjustment.
• Have a certified technician examine the exhaust system for leaks, which may lead to deadly conditions in a closed vehicle.
• Are you prepared for nighttime or twilight driving associated with the end of daylight savings time? Your vehicle should be equipped with emergency equipment such as flares, gloves, a blanket, flashlight and some basic tools.

According to Molla, driving habits affect vehicle maintenance and frequency of repair. Check your owner’s manual for manufacturer’s guidelines. Even vehicles that log few miles need regular maintenance to keep them operating properly.

“Having your vehicle serviced at least twice a year by an ASE-certified professional technician will solve about 90 percent of vehicle maintenance problems and help keep your car off of the tow truck,” Molla said.

Article by Jay Alling, editor of Sensible Driver. Write to jay@sensibledriver.com.