Whether traveling or motoring near home, the best way to avoid your vehicle leaving you stranded is with a little preventative maintenance, urged Bob Kazmierczak, AAA Northwest Ohio Car Care Plus Operations Manager.

“Taking care of your vehicle now can not only prevent the hassle of a breakdown, but also can cost far less than a major repair that might be needed if vehicle upkeep is ignored,” he said.

Over THE entire summer driving season between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, AAA will rescue roughly 9.3 million stranded motorists, Kazmierczak predicted.

Find problems before they arise
Whether planning a summer road trip or continuing a regular commute to work, AAA recommends two fundamental things motorists can do to decrease the likelihood of their vehicle leaving them stranded:

• Have your vehicle serviced regularly based on the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. This is the best way to catch problems before they arise.

• Identify a quality repair shop, and use that facility for all of your vehicle repairs and maintenance. Repeated use of a trustworthy shop allows a motorist to develop a good working relationship with the service staff, and allows the repair technicians to get to know the vehicle and make needed service recommendations in a timely manner.

AAA Northwest Ohio offers three AAA Car Care Plus auto maintenance and repair facilities that meet and maintain high professional standards for training, equipment, cleanliness and customer service.

Easy maintenance and checks for motorists
While some maintenance and repair tasks are best left to certified automotive technicians, there are several basic items motorists can easily check themselves between trips to their auto repair facility.

• Engine air filter – A dirty air filter was the most frequent problem found during AAA car care inspections in 2009. A dirty or clogged air filter restricts airflow and reduces engine performance. A damaged filter, or one that does not seal properly in its housing, will allow unfiltered air to enter the engine. This can lead to increased engine wear and, in some applications, damage to electronic engine control components.

Check the air filter every six months or 7,500 miles by holding it up to a 100-watt light bulb. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it is still clean enough to work effectively. However, if the light is blocked by most of the filter, replace it.

• Windshield washer fluid –Rain, insects, grime and other debris on a windshield will compromise the driver’s vision if the windshield wipers cannot remove them. A supply of the proper washer fluid, delivered effectively to the glass, helps the wipers remove these contaminants.

Check the windshield washer fluid reservoir monthly or more often if the washers are used frequently. Top it up with a solution formulated to aid in the removal of insects and other debris. Be sure to test the washer spray nozzles for proper operation and aim before hitting the road.

• Tire pressure – More than 21 percent of the vehicles checked had one or more tires with incorrect air pressure. Proper inflation will make tires last longer and delay the need to buy new ones. Plus, correct tire pressures will help maximize a vehicle’s fuel economy, while ensuring optimum ride and handling for comfort and safety.

Check and adjust tire pressures at least once a month when the tires are cold—including the spare. Always inflate tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended settings—not the maximum pressure molded on the side of the tire. The manufacturer’s recommendations can be found on a sticker on the driver’s door jam or in the owner’s manual.

• Tire tread: Having good tires with sufficient tread depth is crucial, particularly in wet road conditions. Worn tires with shallow tread are much more likely to hydroplane on wet pavement, resulting in a loss of braking power and steering control.

Check the tread depth by inserting a penny upside down into a tire groove with Lincoln’s head facing outward. The tread should cover part of Lincoln’s head. If any of the area above Lincoln’s head is visible, it’s time to start shopping for new tires. Always check the tread at several points around the tire and across its width, and use the lowest reading.

Uneven or excessive wear of the tire tread may indicate the need for suspension repair or wheel alignment, both of which will extend the life of a vehicle’s tires.

• Battery –Summer heat breaks down the battery internally and accelerates the rate of corrosion on vehicle’s battery terminals. Both of these conditions can lead to insufficient electrical power being available, and leave a motorist stranded without warning.

Check the battery cables to ensure they are securely attached to the terminals. Clean the terminals if there are any signs of corrosion. It is not enough to simply remove external corrosion; proper cleaning requires disconnecting the cables to clean the areas where their ends contact the battery terminals.

• Windshield wiper blades: Windshield wipers are easy to overlook until motorists find themselves in a pounding rainstorm. If the wiper blades are sufficiently deteriorated, the metal wiper blade frame could contact and permanently damage the windshield.

Check the wiper blades at every oil change or whenever they fail to wipe the glass clean in a single swipe. The life of a rubber insert is typically six to 12 months depending on its exposure to heat, dirt, sunlight, acid rain and ozone. Streaking and chattering are common clues that the rubber is breaking down and replacement is needed.

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