To say that it gets hot during the summer in Phoenix would be the understatement of the year. Don’t let the scorching summer heat turn your car into an oven and your engine into one giant repair bill. Sun Devil Auto is here to provide you with a few tips for preparing your car for the heat and ways to prevent auto problems during the summer.
Park in the Shade
While you’re inside your home enjoying the air conditioning or otherwise out of your vehicle, try to park in the shade as much as possible. This may seem like a simple and basic tip, but it’s essential nonetheless. Not only does parking in the shade help keep the interior of your car cool, but it also helps keep the sun’s rays from damaging your dashboard, steering wheel and any other components exposed to beaming sun rays.
Have Your Vehicle Serviced
No matter whether you plan on sticking close to home or traveling this summer, make sure you bring your car into one of our certified technicians for a complete 52-point inspection. While following the maintenance guidelines provided in your owner’s manual is a good start, nothing replaces having a comprehensive visual inspection done by a certified technician. Being proactive is one of the best ways to sidestep repairs and future financial frustration.
Get Those Tires Inspected
While we’re looking under the hood, we can also examine your tires to make sure they’re in good condition. If you think it’s hot out, consider the fact that the pavement your tires are rolling over can be as many as 40 or 50 degrees hotter than what you see on the weather forecast. Tires that aren’t properly inflated are much less reliable. Keep yourself from needing to call a tow truck or changing a tire on your own by having them inspected ahead of time.
Change Your Wiper Blades
The Phoenix heat beaming down on your windshield can lead to premature cracking on your wiper blades. If you’re ever caught in a storm, you’ll want to make sure your windshield wipers are well equipped to give you maximum visibility.
Check Your Coolant Levels
Besides your air conditioner, the other cooling system you’ll want to have inspected during the summer is your engine cooling system. We recommend that you have your coolant changed every 30,000-50,000 miles if you drive in severe driving conditions such as extreme heat and stop-and-go traffic.
Keep Cool and Keep Safe
For more tips on preparing your car for the Phoenix heat and for general maintenance advice, get in touch with the Sun Devil Auto shop nearest you. We’re here to help you beat the heat and keep your finances neat.