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What You Need to Know Before Hitting the Road in the Heat

by | Jul 13, 2012 | Maintenance

Since it’s the dead of summer, we figured many of you will probably be hitting the road and heading to cooler places to chill out. But we hope that before you head out, you make sure your car is ready for the long and hot trip. Here’s a couple things we suggest you as your honest NARPRO mechanic to check…

1) Your Cooling System. Make sure your radiator is in good shape, and that the core isn’t plugged. Have them check the belts and hoses that are related to the cooling system to make sure there aren’t any cracks and the heater core which is part of the coolant system. If it leaks and the coolant drains and you could be causing some MAJOR engine problems.

2) Your Tires. Make sure you have correct pressure in all of your tires, including the spare. If you’re not sure what constitutes correct pressure, find the sticker on the inside of the drivers door sill or the owners manual. Also, remember that tire pressure will increase as air temperature gets warmer, so always check your tires first thing in the morning before driving more than a mile or two. Sever conditions and incorrect tire pressures could cause the tires to blow! Also check your tire tread; the minimum acceptable depth for “healthy” tires is 3/32 inch.

3) Your Air Conditioning. Make sure that cold air is always coming out of the vents. Before your trip, ask your mechanic to make sure that the system is fully charged with refrigerant. Other than that, there’s really not too much else you can do to make sure your AC is working. As long as cold air is coming out, it’s not worth messing with at all.
And check out a couple more quick tips to bring to your mechanic’s attention. You can get a printable version of the entire list here.

  • Check the front end…ball joints, tie rod ends and steering components.
  • Change the oil and look for leaks.
  • Check to see if you’re close to the recommended service interval on your transmission.

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