DANGERS THAT THE SUMMER HEAT MAY POSE TO YOUR VEHICLE
The summer season is a great time for you to get out and enjoy the weather, but it can also be a dangerous time for your vehicle. One of the most common dangers that we see during this time of year is due to excessive heat. When temperatures reach extreme highs, your car may suffer from malfunctioning components or simply break down altogether. To help protect against this danger, we’ve put together a list of safety tips:
Summer Heat Brings High Temperatures
Summer heat can cause a lot of problems for your car. Here are some things to watch out for:
- Brake fluid can boil at high temperatures, causing the brakes to malfunction. If this happens, it’s important to pull over and check the level in your brake fluid reservoir; add more if necessary (and make sure you’re using DOT-3 or DOT-4 brake fluid).
- Tires may overheat when driving on hot pavement due to underinflated tires or worn out tires—check your tire pressure often! It’s also possible that other parts of the suspension might be damaged by excessive heat as well; get an expert opinion if you think this is happening before driving any longer with potentially unsafe conditions.
Have Your Brake System Inspected
The summer heat can cause your brake system to weaken and malfunction. You should have a mechanic check your brakes at least once a year, but it’s especially important to do so during the hot months. Here’s how:
- Check the pedal for firmness and responsiveness. If it feels mushy or spongy, that might mean you need new brake pads or rotors (the part of your car’s braking system that turns).
- Check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. If it’s low, get some more before adding it to your vehicle so as not to contaminate any fresh fluid you add later. The fluid should be dark red or almost brownish red in color; if it looks dirty or milky white, chances are something is wrong with your system—in which case call a professional ASAP!
Excessive Heat May Cause the Check Engine Light to Illuminate
The check engine light is a warning light. It can indicate a serious problem, such as misfiring or a weak battery. When the check engine light comes on, it’s important to get your vehicle checked out by a mechanic as soon as possible because failing to do so could lead to more expensive problems down the road.
There are many reasons why your check engine light may illuminate while driving in hot weather:
- A loose gas cap could cause the vehicle’s computer system to detect an incorrect amount of fuel injected into the engine when it’s not actually there. The computer will display this error by illuminating both the “check engine” and “service soon” lights at once on most modern vehicles; if you notice this happening while driving, tighten your gas cap securely and then turn off the ignition before attempting another start-up attempt. In some cases where no other problems are present (such as low oil levels), this error code can be manually cleared by pressing specific buttons on your dash or steering wheel after turning off all accessories like air conditioning but before starting up again; consult your owner’s manual for further details about clearing potential fuel-related errors using these methods.
Be Mindful of the Outside Temperature
You should also be aware that summer heat can have a damaging effect on your vehicle. The outside temperature can cause the air conditioner to fail, which might make it difficult for you to drive comfortably. It’s best to avoid leaving your car in direct sunlight, as that will contribute to the damage being done by high temperatures. Also, try not to park directly under trees or other tall objects that block out the sun!
If you don’t have access to an enclosed garage or shaded parking spot (such as at work), park your car in a shady area instead of directly under the sun’s rays. Keep all windows closed and turn on the AC so that cool air is circulating around inside the cabin while you wait for your shift or appointment. If possible, open up one window halfway so there’s still some airflow going into and out of the vehicle without letting too much heat inside—this allows enough circulation without allowing too much hot air through as well!
Protect the Interior With Window Tinting
The summer heat can do a number on your car’s interior, but tinting the windows is one way to protect it. Tinting acts as an insulating barrier between the sun and your vehicle, keeping it cooler inside. If you don’t have tinted windows, consider window film instead.
Window film comes in many colors and shades. There are also films which can block a wider range of light than just ultraviolet rays—you may even want to opt for one that keeps out infrared light as well if you want maximum protection from heat!
If you live in a warm climate where summer temperatures regularly top 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), consider getting window film applied before the weather gets too hot and sticky.
It’s important to take care of your vehicle during the summer season, and there are several areas that require attention.
It’s important to take care of your vehicle during the summer season, and there are several areas that require attention. The most obvious is the engine. In addition to checking the oil level and topping it off if necessary, you should also check the coolant level. If this needs to be refilled, only use distilled water or antifreeze/coolant as opposed to tap water as it can cause corrosion in your radiator. Also keep an eye out for other signs of overheating such as steam coming from underneath your hood or smoke billowing out of blow-off valve on a radiator cap.
Brakes are another component susceptible to damage from high temperatures—especially drums which have no air flow through them like disc brakes do—so make sure yours are well maintained before heading out on any road trips this summer (we recommend having them inspected annually). Check each wheel for cracks in rotors or warping; if you find any problems with these components let a professional mechanic handle replacements so they don’t get damaged further due lack maintenance knowledge/equipment on hand.”
Conclusion
We hope that this article gave you some valuable information about what to look out for when driving during the summer. We also encourage you to share it with your friends and family, since everyone could use a little extra help in making sure their car is running smoothly during these hot months.