Summer-Proof Your Ride

When preparing vehicles for summer driving, the focus of many car owners is often air conditioning. While the air conditioning is certainly important to the comfort factor, it is just one aspect of what makes for a pleasant, safe summer driving experience. But first, you’ll want to understand a few things about what keeps a vehicle working optimally in the heat.

Cool Engine -- A proper maintenance program entails:

• Engine belts — Engine belts should be inspected for cracks or missing sections and replaced if needed.

• Radiator — A check should be done to determine if there are leaks or corrosion in or on the radiator. Also, radiator hoses and connections should be examined for leaks. Clamps that may have become loose should be tightened. If the rubber seal on the radiator cap is damaged, the entire cap should be replaced. The most accurate test of hoses and connections involves pressure testing of the pressure cap and radiator.

• Hoses — If hoses in the vehicle are cracked, soft, or are in poor condition, they should be replaced.

• Engine exterior — A build-up of oil and dirt can cause the engine to run hot or hide leaks.

• Cooling system — This system regulates the operating temperature range of the engine. Engine coolant can become contaminated, so the system should be flushed and replenished periodically as recommended by the manufacturer — typically every three years or 36,000 miles. Warning: Never check the radiator or coolant when the engine is hot.

Cool Passengers
Understanding the clues your air conditioning may give you is helpful in its maintenance.

• Hoses — The air-conditioning compressor has two hoses leading out of it. Any cracks from decay in the hoses could spell trouble. Oily substances found near the joints where the hoses meet parts indicate a leak. Even the smallest leak at a joint can shut down your air-conditioning system.

• Refrigerant — If the inside of your vehicle is not as cool as it has been in the past, it may mean a safeguard has been triggered, shutting down the air-conditioning system because the refrigerant level is too low.

• Air flow — If you’re not getting a lot of air flow out of your vents when the air conditioning is on, it does not necessarily mean a problem with the A/C. It may be the result of a blown fuse, which indicates a problem somewhere else in the car.

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Published in the May 2001 issue of the AAA Traveler.