The Heat is On
Rising temperatures can take a toll on everyone and everything, including your car. Explore frequent issues of extreme heat and ways to avoid them to ensure you and your family don’t miss out on summer fun due to car troubles.
Dead Battery
The issue: Heat and vibration can wreak havoc on your car’s battery, leading to internal battery breakdown and even failure. Extreme heat can also cause faster evaporation of battery fluid, resulting in corrosion on terminals and connections.
How to prevent it: Check your car battery for corrosion, and clean any buildup from terminals and clamps. You should also make sure the battery is securely in place to reduce vibration.
Flat Tire
The issue: High pavement temperatures can cause under-inflated and worn tires to overheat, and can increase the risk of a blowout.
How to prevent it: Check your tires once a month to inspect tread depth, uneven wear, and to maintain the recommended tire pressure located on the driver’s door jamb. Tires should only be checked when cool.
Overheated Engine
The issue: A car’s engine gets hot even without the unwanted help of extreme heat. If your car’s coolant level is low, your engine may have difficulty regulating temperature and can overheat.
How to prevent it: Keep your engine cool. Keep an eye on your vehicle’s temperature gauge throughout the summer season and ensure your engine coolant is at the proper level by checking the overflow reservoir. You can find detailed information on when to flush and replace coolant in your vehicle’s manual.
Low Fluid Levels
The issue: Summer heat can accelerate the rate of loss for all fluids, not just coolant. Engine fluids play an important role by serving as coolants to help carry heat away from the engine, and insufficient levels can impact efficiency and can cause the engine to overheat.
How to prevent it: Keep your vehicle lubricated by having a trustworthy mechanic confirm all fluids are at proper levels, including coolant, oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and gas.
If your car is more than three years old, call AAA Mobile Battery Service to request a technician test your battery, and if necessary, replace it on the spot. Get a free price quote – with your Member discount included – at AAA.com/Battery.
