July 15, 2021
Car Problems to Look Out for This Summertime
Photo by Pixabay under Pexels License
Summer’s here once again, and you know what this means? Road trips and beaches!
Before loading your car with an arsenal of your beach essentials and snacks, however, you got to give it a close inspection. Summer brings not just sunshine and a temperature average of 71.9 °F but also auto problems.
Unless you don’t mind your summer being a bummer, you should spare some time checking every single component of your car. Extreme heat can put a lot of stress on our vehicles, just like it does to us, humans.
When you discover minor problems early on, fixing them would be easy, and you could probably do it on your own. Plus, you get to save a lot of money for costly repairs.
So what are the most common summer car problems you should know about? Veteran Car Donations lists five of them:
- Overheated engine
An overheated engine is a disaster waiting to happen. If you see a car stranded on the side of the road with steam coming from underneath the hood, you know which component to blame.
Although your car comes with a coolant system to keep the engine cool, sometimes it may not enough for the intense summer temperatures. Your coolant will have to work harder than usual. Even the slightest weak spot in the seal can spell major trouble.
The best way to prevent this is by monitoring your coolant level regularly. It’s also a good idea to check the condition of your hoses. Small cracks in the rubber tell you that it’s time to replace them.
- Dead battery
It’s not only the freezing winter weather that shortens a car battery’s lifespan — summer heat does it, too!
Rising temperatures can affect the internal parts of your battery, weakening its charging ability, and evaporating its fluid.
To protect your battery from damage, clean it at least once a week. Dirt can become a conductor and drain its power. Also, check your electrical system to see if it’s charging at the proper rate. Make sure that all parts of your battery are in great shape.
- A/C failure
Another common summer car problem that makes life uncomfortable on the road is an air conditioner that blows hot instead of cold air. Imagine driving on a scorching day inside a searing car.
In most cases, a refrigerant leak is the root cause of this problem. You’ll need to take it to a professional technician to locate and seal the leak.
The problem might also have something to do with your A/C’s condenser. If it gets clogged with debris, your A/C will produce hot air.
- Fluid leaks
The harsh summer heat can cause your car’s essential fluids to vaporize, resulting in numerous issues.
For instance, low engine oil could lead to engine failure while insufficient brake fluid could comprise your car’s ability to stop. As soon as you notice any signs of a leak, you should bring your car to your local mechanic.
- Tire blowout
While a tire blowout normally occurs during winter, it can also happen during the summer months. That’s because driving on asphalt can cause your tires to lose traction and pressure.
Heat can also be the culprit. Although it doesn’t necessarily cause tire failure, it can aggravate any previous damage that could lead to premature wear, tread separation, and tire blowouts.
To prevent such risks, be sure to maintain the proper tire pressure. Always check the pressure before a long trip to ensure zero tire issues. Keep an eye out for any signs of wear and tear, too.
Don’t Know What to Do with Your Clunker?
If you’ve experienced all sorts of car problems and wasted a lot of hard-earned money paying for those costly repairs, you must have realized by now that you would have been better off if you had saved that money and used it to buy a new set of wheels instead.
Well, you can still do something good for your clunker. How about simply handing it over to us here at Veteran Car Donations? We’ll use your donated vehicle to improve the living conditions of the neglected and suffering veterans in your local area.
Once we get hold of your automobile, we’ll have it auctioned off. We will then transfer the proceeds to our veteran-focused charity partners, enabling them to render services to more needy veterans in your area. These are our former troops who are living miserable lives due to homelessness, inability to find jobs, service-connected disabilities, and illnesses, including mental health issues.
Your donated vehicle will help our charity partners in providing them with free quality health care, financial aid, housing assistance, employment opportunities, family support, educational scholarships, psychotherapy services, and many other benefits.
As our token of gratitude, we’ll promptly send to you the 100% tax-deductible sales receipt of your vehicle after it gets sold. The receipt will entitle you to claim the maximum tax deduction in the next tax season.
You will also benefit from our free pickup and towing service.
More valuable than these material rewards, you’ll get to experience the priceless joy and satisfaction of giving away something that will be used to help uplift the lives of our nation’s heroes.
We accept almost all types of vehicles, including those that are no longer in good condition. Head over to this page to get a comprehensive list of the vehicles we commonly accept as donations.
You can donate anywhere in the country since we have vehicle donation programs in all 50 states.
For more information about our program, you may browse through our FAQs page. Send us a message here if you have any concerns or inquiries, or give us a call at 877-594-5822.
Give Back to Our Heroes Today!
Photo by RDNE Stock project under Pexels License
Our veterans risked their lives to keep all of us safe and protected. Donating a vehicle for their benefit allows you to give back to them. You can make such a donation right now by calling Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or filling out our online donation form.
Last Updated: August 23rd, 2023