Common Summer Car Breakdowns To Avoid

There isn’t a single driver who encounters inconveniences or breakdowns when driving during the winter, but what about the scorching summer days? Believe it or not, there is an extensive list of car problems that are specific to hotter days. There’s a reason why it’s recommended to park in a shady, covered area during the summer besides the fact that it’s uncomfortable to return to burning hot seats. Here is our list of the most common problems and how to fix them as the summer heat begins to roll in.

Do Cars Break Down in Hot Weather?

Car breakdowns are entirely possible in hot weather due to the problems it causes in the inner mechanics of your vehicle. You may even experience the inconvenience of car starting problems in hot weather. This is mostly due to overheating impacting other accessories of your vehicle. Common reasons your car may break down because of high temperature are:

• Low oil pressure
• Weak spots on tires worsened due to friction
• Brake system failure
• Brake fluid requires changing
• Water leakage

It’s best that you opt for a local mechanic shop or mobile auto repair service near you to check for potential faults before heading out on any long car rides.

Can Hot Weather Affect Car Battery?

If you thought that car battery failure was only a winter problem, then you may be disheartened to learn that a weak battery is just as problematic in the summer. This is due to the fact that the car battery needs to work hard to keep the car and other accessories from overheating. If there is a malfunction in the battery, this can cause it to carry this task out less efficiently.

Can Hot Weather Break Car Windows?

The glass windows of your car shattering due to high heat is certainly a near-impossible scenario. Most mass-produced glass requires hundreds of degrees of direct heat to result in this type of damage. This, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t experience cracks and deformations in your car windows or windshield because of the heat. Cracking occurs not from the direct heat itself but from the abrupt shift in temperature of the glass from hot to cold or vice versa. Since the glass expands in the heat, it can crack if exposed to abrupt cold from the A/C unit or a very cold water car wash, for example. As tempting as it is to crank up the A/C first thing after getting in the car, keep in mind that replacing your windshield is much more costly than gradually cooling down your car.

Other Car Problems in Hot Weather

Here are a few other issues to look out for this summer:

Tire bursts — temperature fluctuations cause deformations and expansions of your tires if they are not inflated properly. Tire bursts are by far the most common car problem during the summer.

Broken air conditioning system — this is more of incontinence for the driver and passengers, especially if your location is experiencing a heatwave.

Engine overheating due to a faulty cooling system — an overheating engine can lead to a variety of other problems including not letting your car start properly.

Worn out wiper blades (windshield wipers) — they may melt onto your windshield glass if left under considerate heat.

Vaporized fuel leaks — Heat significantly impacts fuel vaporization in your car which in its turn can lead to leakage if there is a faulty hose in your vehicle.

How to Prevent Common Car Problems in Summer

Prevention is the key to steering clear of unnecessary roadside incidents. Do these simple steps this summer to avoid car problems:

• Frequent mechanic visit checkups for faulty parts
• Park your car under shade or in a garage during the day
• Maintain the health of your cooling system or coolant levels
• Monitor your tire pressure levels often
• Test your car battery
• Test your car brakes
• Opting for a windshield cover when parking outside

Now that you have all the information regarding common issues and fixes for summer car problems, you and your vehicle are ready to cruise along the summer roads ahead.

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