Money.azcentral.com.

ally be honest with you, but the bad reputation the auto industry has nowadays is that they’re always trying to sell you something, so a lot of people discredit the person’s advice unless they’ve trusted or used them before.”

Not everyone has the time to become his or her own mechanic, but Kinkade recommends that people learn how to check their vehicle’s fluid levels. Being able to recognize when the fluids are too low allows motorists to find possible leaks on their own.

But Kinkade warns that those people checking their coolant levels should make sure the radiator is cool beforehand.

“If you open up a radiator when it’s hot, you can get hot fluids spilling out everywhere and you can get very serious burns,” Kinkade said. “The fluids can get up to 220 degrees. That being said, it’s good to check your own fluids.”

Kinkade recommends that people consult with someone they know and trust — preferably in the auto industry — to learn how to check a vehicle’s fluid levels. He said most auto shops are willing to show customers how to check these levels, which fluids go where and how to avoid overfilling.

Although it seems no vehicle is immune to the Arizona heat, professionals agree that these problems can be avoided by bringing your car to a trusted mechanic when your odometer matches the number on the label left on your windshield sticker at the last checkup.