Center Feature ... Prepare Now For Holiday Travel

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Don't let a breakdown ruin your holiday trip to Grandma's house. Failure to get your vehicle ready for winter conditions can spoil your holiday and can be dangerous, warn the experts at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.

To help prevent holiday breakdowns, ASE offers the following tips to help motorists prepare. Some are easy; others require a professional technician.

• Owner's Manual. Read yours and follow the recommended service schedules.
• Routine Care. Inspect lights and bulbs. Replace worn wiper blades; carry emergency gear - a shovel, bag of sand for traction, a blanket, boots, snack food, a cell phone, etc.
• Battery. The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment, but motorists can keep corrosion from posts and cable connections. (Wear eye protection and gloves.)
• Cooling System. The level, condition and concentration of the antifreeze should be checked periodically. The cooling system should be flushed and refilled as recommended. (Let the engine cool off before working on the radiator.) The tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps and hoses should be checked by a pro.
• Engine Performance. Rough idling, hard starts, stalling or diminished power should be corrected before cold weather sets in. Describe any changes in performance to the service manager or a qualified technician.
• Tires. Rotate them about every 5,000 miles. The air pressure should be checked once a month; let the tires "cool down" first. Examine tires for cuts and nicks, uneven wearing, and cupping. Check the spare, too. Note that some of today's body styles and tire packages are not compatible with tire chains.
• Professional Technicians. Look for repair facilities with modern equipment, polite staff and ASE-certified automotive technicians.

For a free brochure with winter tips, send a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to: ASE Winter Brochure, Dept. NU-010, 13505 Dulles Technology Drive, Suite 2, Herndon, VA 20171-3421.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians.

ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact area(s) of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign. Visit www.asecert.org for more information.