Summer is here, with the season comes hotter days and longer drives for some. Among the summer trends we all know so well, much of it involves additional stress on your vehicle. Winter too is tough on a car, but a hot engine plus hot weather can equal major problems.

You may run into a few issues that are easier than you think to resolve. It's those little things that add up when having professionally repaired. Keep in mind that in many cases a repair shop has labor minimums. For some it's one hour, others it's thirty minutes. With labor rates from $80-100p/hr, think twice for the fix. This is as good a time as any to start polishing those DIY skills.

Take your A/C for example; if it's just low on Freon, that's an easy enough job to take on. Simply go to your local parts shop and ask them about the A/C re-charging kits. It takes minutes to do and you will be much happier when the heat hits triple digits outside.

Likewise consider simple fixes like bulb replacement, cabin and engine filter changes, even oil changes. Your local lube shop may get you for well over $100 do to the above listed. Why pay so much? I made a trip to the local parts shop and purchased both air filters, and oil change items for $59! Your car may cost more or less, especially if not equipped with a cabin air filter.

Some of the simpler tasks are bulb and wiper blade replacement. With search engines like Google, it's not hard to find the "how to" tips for most jobs on the World Wide Web. Many parts shops are even willing to walk out and give you a quick tutorial on replacing these items.

While many are strapped for cash, safety should still be a high priority. Burnt out signal and brake lights can lead to an accident. The same can be said for poor performing wipers in a random summer storm. Take time to check these simple things on a regular basis.

Feel free to write e-mail me with any auto-related questions, I'm more than happy to help.

Ride on, Lance