By Jack Lemnus, South Florida Sun Sentinel
The summer season warmth can turn out to be an even bigger headache after we’re instantly caught on the highway with automotive hassle. Batteries die. Tires put on out, blow out, go flat. And drivers, in a haste, lock themselves out of automobiles.
Roadside helpers and mechanics see an increase in such automotive woes as temperatures climb every summer season — and this scorching summer season has been no exception, with July marking some of the persistent excessive warmth waves lately.
What are you able to do to keep away from such issues?
Here’s what automotive specialists counsel for holding your automotive working (and holding your cool).
Two million requires lifeless batteries
The three most typical points that come up with intense warmth are lifeless batteries, flat tires and lockouts, stated Michele Harris, director of Florida public affairs for AAA.
“As it relates to batteries, for example, last summer, AAA responded to two million calls for dead batteries,” Harris stated. “Many times, people will see a slow start, or a stuttered start, or their headlights dimming and things like that.”
But it’s not at all times that apparent when a automotive battery is heading towards the sunshine. That’s why taking note of battery life is necessary, Harris stated. A normal rule is to pay shut consideration to batteries between three and 5 years previous, as a result of previous batteries are particularly vulnerable to the warmth.
Considering excessive temperatures pace up the chemical reactions in batteries, they have a tendency to age quicker in the summertime, in keeping with Consumer Reports. And that very same warmth could cause the rubber in tires to degrade extra quickly, resulting in flat tires and blowouts.
“We also responded to over one million calls for flats last summer,” Harris stated. “And that was mostly due to underinflated tires, which are more likely to overheat.”
Preparing an emergency equipment
With the seasonal inflow of stalled automobiles means extra individuals caught within the warmth. While ready for assist, Harris recommends to pack an emergency equipment with gadgets like additional water, snacks, first help and contemporary batteries.
“You never know if you do get stuck on the side of the road for something that could take minutes to fix,” Harris stated.
That’s why whereas planning the summer season highway journey, AAA recommends getting a routine checkup on the auto restore store. Because like battery well being, there are lots of points that aren’t at all times obvious on the floor. That contains fluids akin to engine oil, coolant and transmission fluids.
Extreme warmth could cause these fluids to evaporate or degrade, and might even end in vapor lock in older automobiles, when gas being delivered to the engine modifications from liquid to gasoline, which results in stalling.
Avoiding seatbelt burns and extra
This is particularly related to Ty Houck, proprietor of Ragtops Motorcars, a classic automotive dealership in Lake Worth, Florida. As somebody who names his automobiles very like one does their kids, he has some recommendation for automotive homeowners.
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years and the worst thing you can do to a car is to let it sit,” Houck stated. “Leaving it out in the sun all day is just inviting trouble.”
In Florida, for one, a automotive parked underneath the solar can be a recipe for the infamous seat-belt burns.
To keep away from getting right into a rolling furnace, Houck recommends protecting the inside with a windshield reflector, a towel on the steering wheel and even a glove on the gear shift. Little issues like windshield shades are confirmed to scale back the cabin temperature by a median of 15 levels, in keeping with a University of Central Florida research.
“I don’t think there’s one secret to keeping your car cool,” Houck stated. “Just be aware of the risks and don’t park your dog or kids in it.”
As the temperatures proceed to climb, keep watch over battery life, verify tire strain and tread depth, prime off the fluids, be sure that to have an emergency equipment and get common check-ups.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”