With summer hot on our heels, auto travel is warming our minds.
But if thoughts of a vacation by car are dancing in your head, it’s important to remember that a 90-degree day can be almost as taxing on a car as winter’s extreme, says Dave Bufka, senior vice president of member services at the AAA-Chicago Motor Club.
On a hot day the club provides emergency services to approximately 1,500 vehicles, primarily dealing with failed computer electronics and overheated engines. Computer electronics particularly can’t tolerate the heat.
Five years ago, 18 percent of emergency road service involved towing a vehicle to a repair shop. Last summer, 37 percent of emergency calls ended with a tow truck, largely because of computer electronic failures, lack of maintenance and failures in the charging and starting system.
To avoid becoming a statistic, be prepared for unexpected electrical breakdowns. Have emergency phone numbers handy so you can call your auto club, mechanic or new-car dealer for assistance.
Carry an emergency kit with basic tools, electrical tape, flashlight, aerosol flat-tire fixer, blankets, water, “Send Help” sign, and flares or reflectors.
While most computer electronic failures can’t be prevented, parts of the charging and starting systems can be kept in peak condition. The battery, alternator, alternator belt and starter motor have to deal with high temperatures-often 300 to 500 degrees-and high electrical demand-with the air conditioner drawing as much power as a rear window defogger uses in the winter.
If your battery car is 4 years old or older, buy a new one. When buying the battery, have a technician test the charging and starting system. This should include an inspection of the battery cableconnections for corrosion and security, electrolyte level, alternator belt tension and condition, starter motor cable connections and a battery load test. Any deficiency should be corrected or the car could die.
The blower motor for the heating/ventilation/air and the electric cooling system fan puts added strain on the charging system and battery, so when stuck in traffic, operate the A/C at minimum fan speeds and highest tolerable temperatures.
Though it makes no sense to head out on the road with a miss in your engine, tuneups are a thing of the past. Most cars don’t need yearly spark plug replacements. Today’s tuneup is spark-plug maintenance, an inspection of the ignition wires and a filter replacement. Many repair facilities perform computerized tests to make sure the engine is running within specifications. Others just replace the spark plugs and check the filters, performing a computerized system test only if the engine exhibits a problem.
Because the service varies from shop to shop, ask what is included before authorizing work. Also, if the car has performance problems, explain the trouble in detail before anything is done.
Refer to your owner’s manual to determine when new plugs should be installed. But generally, your car needs spark-plug work if the fuel economy has dropped, starts become difficult, acceleration is diminished or the engine misses.
Poor spark plugs cause malfunctions that may strand you. Marginal plugs also could foul the catalytic converter ($300 to replace) or flood the engine with gasoline ($2,000 if damaged). Worn spark plugs can stress the electronic ignition module, computer and other related equipment already stressed by the heat.
The engine oiling system has to be in top condition to provide needed lubrication. Heat thins the oil and may cause marginal oil to form deposits in the engine. That could lead to sludge buildup, which reduces oil flow and may cause the engine to fail.
Have the engine oil and filter changed, making sure summer-weight oil is poured into the crankcase. Check your owner’s manual oil temperature/viscosity chart to determine what oil is best for the temperature at which you will be operating the car. Also listed there is the oil weight that works best in the engine.
Follow the carmaker’s recommendations for the American Petroluem Institute rating, energy conservation rating and Society of Automotive Engineers viscosity.
Don’t overlook tire care. Tires with little tread could slide on oily, wet pavement. Because extended travel on hot pavement makes tires hot, chances of a blow-out increase.
Check the tires for proper inflation and wear. If you find excessive or uneven wear, bubbles and bends in the tread or sidewall or cracks in the sidewall, ask a technician to evaluate the tires and suspension. Such tires may need to be replaced. Loose suspension and steering parts should be replaced and aligned.
This prolongs tire life and maintains proper vehicle handling. Tires in good condition and a suspension and steering in proper alignment increases fuel economy and reduces vehicle wear.
Then there’s engine overheating, a particular problem in hot weather that can cause engine components to melt. If that happens, repairs often exceed $2,000. To reduce overheating, the engine cooling system must be in top condition.
Check the drive belts for cracks, fraying, glazing and proper tension. Replace as needed. Drive belts and cooling system hoses usually last four years.
Check the hoses, especially near the radiator and engine, and radiator and coolant reservoir tanks for leaks. Inspect bends in the hoses for bulges.
Make sure the electric cooling system fan is operating normally. Watch the fan with the engine on; with the air conditioning off, the fan should cycle on and off.
Many cars have two fans. One cycles all the time and the other operates only when the A/C is on. Observe these with the A/C on and off. If either doesn’t function properly at normal engine operating temperature, generally reached after driving 8 to 10 miles, have it checked.
Make sure the coolant in the reservoir is at the proper level. If necessary, add a 50-50 mixture of antifreeze and water. Be sure the fluid protects against freezing to 35 degrees below zero. That is the proper strength to absorb and disperse summer heat..
If the coolant doesn’t have a fresh odor and isn’t clean, flush the system and add new coolant. If the fluid is clean, top it off.
Automatic transaxles and transmissions take a beating in the winter. Spinning wheels on icy pavement overheat the unit and the transmission fluid. Damage done then could appear the first hot day of the season. Transmission fluid cools, lubricates, cleans and provides hydraulic pressure to move the car. Fluid that has a burnt odor and isn’t clean may cause the transmission or transaxle and engine to overheat. Change the transmission fluid for maximum cooling ability and prolonged transmission life.
The brake system also needs attention. In stop-and-go traffic, the brakes get almost hot enough to melt the tires. To see how hot they become, drive for a while. Stop and spray water onto the wheels. The water will boil and vaporize in a second. The same thing can happen to the brake fluid. Over time, brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air, reducing its boiling point. This also reduces braking efficiency, as indicated by a soft or spongy brake pedal.
Brakes should be examined and serviced at least twice a year.
With your car prepared for summer, pop the top or roll down the windows and hit the highways with confidence.
