(PHOENIX) – As we approach what could be our first 100-degree day this year, your Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals (NARPRO) are sharing ways to avoid the most common summer problems for Phoenix drivers.
How to Keep Cool And Stay Safe
Batteries
- Heat evaporates battery fluids, which can speed up corrosion. Clean corrosive build-up from battery terminals and cable clamps. Make sure clamps will not move and securely mount the battery to reduce vibration.
- Batteries last an average of 30 months in the Arizona heat.
- If your car’s battery is more than two years old, you should test it now to make sure it’ll last through the summer.
Air Conditioning
- If it’s running a little warm you might have low refrigerant, a loose drive belt, clogged valves or filters or clogs in the condenser.
- Neglecting minor issues like a leaky hose can lead to early compressor failure, which can top $1000 to fix. Worn parts are more at risk of failing in hot conditions.
- You might consider a full inspection by a certified mechanic to ensure you’ll stay cool throughout the summer.
Tires
- Underinflated tires create excessive heat and stress that can lead to a blowout. The potential for a blowout increases when road temperatures are high.
- According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, 85 percent of drivers don’t know how to properly inflate their tires.
- To get the most accurate pressure reading, check tires when they’ve been driven less than a mile. Tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
- Regularly inspect the tread and sidewalls for irregular tread, wear, cracking cuts, or other damage. Even minor damage can lead to eventual tire failure.
- The minimum acceptable tread depth is 3/32 inch which is about the distance from the edge of a penny to the top of Abe Lincoln’s head, but you don’t want to strive for the minimum during an Arizona summer.
Fluids
- Not only do fluids provide lubrication but they also work as coolants.
- Make sure coolant, motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid are at proper levels and condition.
NARPRO (Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals)
The Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals (NARPRO) helps car owners find skilled and honest car repair shops. NARPRO only recommends independent, family-owned, full-service auto repair shops that have passed 26 rigorous tests. Visit www.NARPRO.com to find recommended shops near work or home. NARPRO is the easiest way to find an honest mechanic in the Valley.
