How to Keep Your Car Cool This Summer

(ARA) – After spending the long, cold winter bundled up, a lot of people are itching to take a road trip.

Whether that means you’ll be heading half way across the country or just to the next town, there’s just something about that feeling you get when you hop into the car, roll down the windows and drive.

But when your car feels like it’s 200 degrees inside on those warm sunny days, it’s hard to get in, much less going. So what can you do about it?

The best solution would be to park in a garage or in the shade all the time, but a more realistic answer to this age-old problem is to add window vents to your car.

These decorative “eves” allow you to leave windows open a crack in the summertime so air can circulate. Warm air vents out and the cooler outside air finds its way in, and you don’t have to worry about a sudden rainstorm.

“AVS Ventvisors are a simple and elegant solution to a problem made worse in recent years by vehicle design. Today, many vehicles have side windows that slant inward at the top, to reduce wind resistance.

As a result, when it rains, water runs off the roof and into the vehicle if a widow is open even slightly. Ventvisors will keep the rain out and let the fresh air in,” says Peter May, spokesman for AVS, a brand name known for its quality line of car customizing accessories.

His company offers two window vent styles that you can install yourself. The original Ventvisor attaches easily to the exterior of your car with strong 3M tape.

The AVS In-Channel Ventvisor installs inside the window channel, giving your car a sleek, streamlined appearance. An added bonus is that no exterior tape touches the vehicle’s paint.

Made from heavy-duty acrylic, the window vents can be painted to match your car, or you can choose to use them as is, in a stylish smoke tint or chrome. Window vents are available for both the front and rear doors, and assisting with air exchange isn’t their only benefit.

While you’re on the road, a window vent can also decrease wind noise for a more pleasant driving experience. For more information on AVS products, or to access a store locator, visit www.lundinternational.com.

In addition to taking steps to make your car feel cooler, it’s also important to make sure its systems will function well in warmer weather. Here’s a checklist to follow before setting out on a road trip:

* Change oil and oil filter

* Inspect radiator coolant, hoses and belts

* Have a fuel system inspection done to make sure the intake valve and combustion chamber are free from deposits

* Inspect the suspension system and replace the shocks if worn to ensure a smooth ride.

* Check brakes

* Check the tire pressure