Many car owners don't realize that automobiles need special care before the onslaught of winter weather. Experts at Ziebart TidyCar, world leaders in accessories and vehicle protection services, recommend doing a "protection inspection" in early fall to prepare for winter's damaging elements.

"Now is the best time to protect your car's interior and exterior from salt, snow, and mud," says Tom Walker, director of the Ziebart Forum on Auto Protection. "Exposure to these elements can be a deadly combination for a vehicle."

Walker recommends several measures drivers can use to "winterize" vehicles:

• Wash the vehicle regularly. It's important to remove all of summer's residues from the exterior of the vehicle in order to avoid winter corrosion. Car washes should use fresh-not recycled-water. Recycled water can contain salt or chemicals from other cars. "Do-it-yourselfers" should use a brand name soap specifically designed for cleaning vehicles.

  Remember to inspect and wash the undercarriage and the interior of body panels on the vehicle to prevent premature corrosion damage, the loss of resale value and expensive body repairs. Wash wheel wells and splash-guard areas to clean out debris and to check for proper drainage. Clean door drain holes from the bottom with a small screwdriver.

  Clean and treat interior vinyl surfaces using a mild detergent in warm water and a brand-name vinyl dressing. Do not use scouring powder or a scouring pad to clean vinyl.

• Use high-quality sealants to protect exterior surfaces. Winter slush, salt and grit are especially abrasive, so be sure to protect the painted surface with a high-quality paint sealant. Take time to thoroughly wash and dry the vehicle before applying sealant to prevent scratching the paint.

• Repair and re-paint exterior scratches, dents or stone chips to avoid surface rust. Consult an automotive parts supplier for the correct color match. In the event of an accident, have any repaired or replacement sheet metal professionally rust protected before operating the vehicle.

Remember that salt is a car's worst enemy during winter. According to the American Salt Institute, an average of 60 million tons of salt are distributed over slippery U.S. roads every winter. And of that, about 3.5 pounds ends up on and in your car, promoting corrosion.

"The only sure thing against corrosion of a vehicle's seams and body panels is an aftermarket rust protection application. Professional rust protection applications and their warranties should cover all body panels and structures prone to rust-especially the hidden areas," says Walker.

Despite great improvements in new vehicle design and galvanized sheetmetal, cars still rust. Any materials engineer will attest that whenever iron or steel is exposed to salt and water, rust is likely to occur. In fact, a 1994 Ziebart TidyCar study found that of the 240 vehicles surveyed between two and four years old, 44 percent or 105 of those vehicles had formed rust on seams, joints, and inside of metal panels.

Don't let winter wear down your vehicle. With proper care and protection, you can add years to your car's life. For the most up-to-date information on car care issues, consumers can access Ziebart's national consumer information service, the Ziebart Forum, by calling 1-888-CAR-RENEW.(NAPSI)