Excessive heat can wear down your car (video)

With the arrival of excessive summer heat, Maricopa residents need to pay attention to their tires, radiators and air conditioning units to keep their vehicles running strong.

Heat can affect cars while they are on the road and while they are parked. A parked car becomes an oven, and items such as seatbelt buckles and steering wheels turn into scalding pieces of torment. However, despite these inconveniences, the real issue with vehicles in the summer may not be as noticeable.

“The most common things in the summer in our store are a lot of radiators and air conditioning, a lot of blowouts for tires and a lot of dead batteries,” Maricopa Big O store manager Mike Williams said. “Every month you should check your vehicles and check your fluids to make sure everything is topped off.”

Items such as radiators and air conditioning units break down due to over exertion. This is especially common where hills are present. The Arizona Highway Patrol Association (AHPA) recommends checking your engine’s cooling systems on a regular basis in the summer.

“In summer, vehicle breakdowns happen because a cooling system failed,” said the AHPA in a statement. “Check parts under the hood, like hoses for cracking or excessive wear. Remove foreign items, like debris, to avoid overheating. Refer to your owner’s manual for the correct coolant type and [that] your vehicle has the appropriate amount.”

Tire deflation and blowouts are also more common in the summer. Even a parked car runs the risk of losing air pressure in the heat. This can lead to cracks in the tire wall, as well as tire blowouts due to dry-rot.

“A vehicle sitting in the heat can [develop] flat spots,” Williams said. “Excessive heat can cause flat spots, and the weight of the vehicle can cause flat spots. If you’re driving down [Highway] 347 and you see a lot of tread separated on the side of the road, that’s mainly because of lack of maintenance and air pressure.”

The AHPA also recommends proper tire care be done. The proper levels for tire pressure are typically found in the driver’s door or owner’s manual. The AHPA recommends traveling when temperatures are cooler to prevent a blowout, and always remember to check the condition of your tires for wear and sidewall cracking before any trip.

Drivers should also have their batteries checked, carry emergency kits and be sure to have water. Should a breakdown occur, these items can help residents stay cool and hydrated until help arrives.