Dead batteries

“Another one of the top reasons” stranding motorists on the side of the road “is your battery because high temperatures compromise batteries a great deal,” Beno said. “You want to have your battery tested, and if it is old or weak, you want to have it replaced.”

The average life expectancy of a car battery in the Desert Southwest is about 28 months, Beno said.

“Generally, if the battery is more than 3 years old, you should have it tested during each maintenance service,” she said. “And, if it is more than 5 years old, you should consider replacing it because it is too old.”

Another simple preventative measure is ensuring there is enough gas in the fuel tank to complete a trip, Beno said.

“You want to start out your trip with a good amount of gas,” at least three quarters of a tank, she said.

More than preventing an unplanned stop in the middle of a road trip, keeping a minimum amount of fuel in a tank helps prevent damage to the engine, saving the owner from shelling out hard-earned cash at a mechanic shop, Beno said.

“You don’t want to let your gas tank run down to empty because not only are you … risking your safety and your family’s safety, you are also harming the vehicle by letting it run down almost to empty,” she said. “There is sediment down at the bottom of the fuel tank, and when you get way down it is getting stirred up and you don’t want that in your regular fuel lines.”

The rule of thumb is to keep you tank at least half to three quarters full, if possible, at all times, Beno said.

“You can let it go down to almost a quarter, but really below a quarter you are starting to get into the danger zone of harming your vehicle’s systems,” she said.

Finally, all engine fluids should be checked regularly, Beno said.

“You should have your antifreeze and coolant level and condition checked, [and] make sure the mixture [is] specified in the vehicle’s owner’s manual,” she said. “You [should] have that looked at, flushed and changed as recommended by the vehicle maintenance schedule.”