Toll Of Commuting: Summer heat can do more damage to your car than winter
Experts at Winter Auto Repair in Robbinsville say high temperatures can put added stress on batteries, air conditioning systems and other key vehicle components.
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Extreme summer heat isn't just tough on drivers. It can also take a serious toll on vehicles.
Experts at Winter Auto Repair in Robbinsville say high temperatures can put added stress on batteries, air conditioning systems and other key vehicle components.
Owner Chris Winter says many drivers don't realize that summer heat can actually be more damaging to a car battery than freezing winter temperatures.
"All of a sudden your GPS doesn't work, your compass is off, your CD player won't play or your Bluetooth stops working. Those are all signs that your battery is going bad," Winter said.
AAA responds to more calls during the summer months than any other season, according to Winter.
"Most people think of a battery dying in the winter time. You start getting into those 100-degree days, multiple days, and like this pickup truck, the battery is starting to be dead," Winter said. "I can't even test it, the battery voltage is so low."
Auto repair experts say air conditioning systems should also be monitored closely during extreme heat.
"The problem with that is, the condenser that sits right here in front of the truck is in front of the radiator and that condenser will get incredibly hot trying to cool that air conditioning off," Winter said.
He added that low oil levels can create expensive problems.
"Just like the engine, the compressor needs to have oil in it. If that oil goes low, it can start seizing up and damaging the compressor itself, which is thousands of dollars in repairs," Winter said.
The advice comes as Americans continue holding onto vehicles longer. The average vehicle on U.S. roads is now nearly 13 years old, making regular maintenance more important than ever.
"Just because it's old doesn't mean it can't last," Winter said. "Cars can go 300,000-400,000 miles if they're maintained properly. One of those things is definitely your air conditioning."
