Rising temperatures, rising car problems
Hot weather hard on vehicles
Every year summer comes around, and brings with it, scorching hot temperatures, health scares, and unfortunately, vehicle problems.
As temperatures rise, so can other problems that many people don’t even think about, until it is too late. According to AAA, they project to receive more than 2 million calls for roadside assistance from California drivers this summer.
The most common calls for service will come from drivers that face battery issues as well as, tire and lockouts, that can leave drivers stuck on the road without water.
They recommend five essential key areas to focus on so that drivers don’t come across certain issues while out in the summer heat. They ask drivers to secure and clean auto batteries, check engine to make sure it stays cool, minimize blowout risks, stay hydrated, and keep the cold air coming.
“Remember that your vehicle isn’t used to these extreme temperatures, either. Be prepared for parts to break down, and have a plan for what to do,” said Mike Blasky, spokesman for AAA Northern California.
Isac Esparza, who works as a mechanic for Mendez Auto Repair Shop in Porterville, said some of the most common problems they see come into their shop is car owners looking to replace or fix their car’s air conditioner.
“We are definitely doing a lot of ACS, people wait until the last minute to get the AC,” said Esparza. “It’s always good to come in a little before the temperatures hit high, because we end up replacing heater cores and AC compressors.” Batteries are of course a huge problem, and can definitely face some problems if heat rises over 100 degrees. Once a battery starts failing, the fluids inside a battery will begin to fail, and can actually start leaking acid out of the battery post.
“One of the main things people can do to prevent that from happening is to keep your battery posts clean, your terminals clean, make sure there is no corrosion in them, like the battery post within itself, and anything inside the battery,” said Esparza.
He also recommends doing a dual radiator flush whenever it’s needed, watch out for any hoses that might be
leaking, make sure tire pressures are set to the right PSI or they will end up wearing out, especially in the heat.
“It’s always good to take it into a shop and have it visually inspected for peace of mind and also for the sake of your vehicle that way you don’t have any problems in the future,” said Esparza.
Amongst the many problems a car owner can face, windows are also something to be aware of, as they tend to crack in the heat, usually newer cars are fine, but it is always
safe to have the window open just a bit to be cautious.
For those who can’t afford to bring a car into a shop for inspection, most drivers can do the visuals themselves by peeping under the hood or under the car for leaks as long as they check it while the car is cold, so as not to get burned.
It’s also important to note, and well known that older models will face more challenges than say newer cars that may have better cooling systems.
Even while some
drivers will take proper measures to prevent a car breaking down, it can still happen. Therefore, AAA recommends every driver have a well-stocked emergency kit in their vehicle. The kit should include water, non-perishable food items, jumper cables, a flashlight with extra batteries and basic repair tools.
Esparza recommends having a pair of vice grips or pliers that one can use to adjust or clamp down on to tighten anything that needs to be tightened as well as a gallon of antifreeze/coolant or as a last resort a gallon of water.
Mendez Auto Repair Shop offers $75 for a diagnostic, AC repair deals like refills, alignments, and free break inspections. If a part is needed, they will usually only charge the owner of the car for the part and not for the labor itself.
For more information on how to check for vehicle problems, call Mendez Auto Repair Shop at 468-6158 or visit your local AAA office at 24 W. Morton Ave.