Memorial Day came and went, signaling the unofficial start of the summer season. As you get ready to hop in the car and go to work, school, or even on a long road trip, don’t forget to prepare your car for the ride.
The change of weather, both high heat and pop-up storms, can put a strain on both the car and driver.
Summer heat can stress many things on a car, but the biggest victim is the cooling system. Long gone are the days of metal components and easy to replace water pumps. Modern cooling systems have many more failure points and are made mostly of plastic. Some cars can have two or three water pumps, each with some mechanical and electric parts that fail in ways the old ones did not. These systems must be inspected and pressure tested periodically so failure can be staved off with maintenance.
If you don’t keep on top of it, you may find yourself walking in the summer heat.
Modern cars are also much more sensitive to high temperatures. Even slight overheating can cause severe engine damage, sometimes to the point of condemning the car to a junkyard. These engines are mighty expensive and labor intensive to replace.
According to a 2025 report by JD Power, the average engine cost for replacement is $2,000-$10,000. I haven’t seen a $2,000 engine replacement cost in over 20 years, but I suppose they are out there.
Prevention and repairing early is the key to protecting your investment. Checking your coolant level and taking your car to the shop if it drops has saved car owners their hard-earned money just by being attentive.
Still, things happen that can run a car out of coolant in seconds. Radiator failures, cracking plastic parts and water pump failure can overheat your ride very quickly, so keep an eye on the temperature gauge, and never drive when it is elevated. A tow truck is supremely cheaper than replacing the engine in just about any car out there.
Heat can also kill batteries, especially on days with a temperature swing from morning to afternoon. The expansion of cells inside the battery along with heat evaporating electrolytes can leave you stranded.
While sometimes a battery may just quit, other times there may be warnings, like a start that is slower than normal. Battery testing is available at any big box auto parts store for free, and some will put a battery in your car right in the parking lot while you wait. Testing your battery and charging system once a season is a good practice.
Surprise summer “pop-up” storms are also prevalent in our area. Sometimes they are not even visible in weather reports and these can drop a ton of rain very unexpectedly, causing wet roads, flooding and poor vision.
Prevention wins here again, and while you cannot prevent the weather, you can prepare for it. Make sure your windows are clean, and your windshield wipers are fit for the job. Applying windshield treatment like Rain-X is also a great idea to help in torrential downpours. Make sure to top up your washer fluid too, as bug spatters are a bigger problem this time of year.
Let’s just hope it is mostly mosquitoes you are washing away!
Tires are also important in suddenly wet conditions. Make sure your tires are inflated to the proper pressure, which is normally located on a sticker in the driver’s door jamb or in the owner’s manual. Tread should be checked every oil change and make sure your tire rotation is up to date to keep them lasting longer.
With these recommendations, you will decrease your chances of catastrophe and keep you and your riders safe.
As for me, I will see you on the road!
