Getting your car ready for a summer road trip

A summer road trip is one of the great simple pleasures, right up until a cooling system decides to quit on a remote stretch of highway. A little preparation keeps the trip about the scenery instead of the shoulder.

Heat is the theme of summer maintenance. Check your coolant level when the engine is cold and keep an eye on the temperature gauge during long climbs. If it creeps up, ease off and let the system recover.

Tires deserve attention too. Set your pressure in the cool morning before you leave, since readings rise as the day and the road heat up. Inspect the sidewalls for cracks that hot pavement can turn into a blowout.

Pack a basic kit: water, a flashlight, and your owner's manual. None of it is glamorous, but all of it helps if the unexpected happens far from home.