Tips for how to protect your car in triple-digit heat
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Just a few yards away from a blown tire on a scorching stretch of Interstate 15, a big rig driver is stranded on the side of the road, proving that even professionals can fall victim to problems on hot roadways.
Mike Manuasa thought his SUV was going to catch fire, so he took it to Dave Ford and his crew at Auto Tech in Henderson to get it checked out.
Manuasa says he was relieved to hear, "He said it was just the fumes venting from the gas cap... because it's so hot."
Ford says he's getting slammed this week with heat-related service requests. He says the ".. batteries go bad in the heat a lot too. Especially when it spikes."
He points to a corroded radiator that he says shows the fluid was never changed. According to Ford, "They probably just added water when it was low instead of putting coolant in it."
Ford says old tires are trouble waiting to happen. "Six year old tires are starting to crack. The heat will kill them and they just blow up."
And, he says, he's seeing a lot of customers who think the air conditioners in their vehicles aren't working, however, "Usually there's nothing wrong. It's just hot."
Ford says staying on the road is as simple as getting an oil change from an AFC certified mechanic who also does a vehicle wellness check.
Ford says, "All the fluids are topped off. Check the radiator. Make sure everything looks good in there. Just by looking inside the radiator you can see if it's corroded. If it's going to cause problems. Make sure the fan is working correctly. Those are the main things."
Mike Manausa followed Ford's advice. He says, "It's good to know, because... I have all my grand kids here for the week and we're gonna be running them around in the car in car seats and all, and I don't want to have to have an emergency where I have to get them out real quick."
According to the National Weather Service, Manausa is right to be worried about his grandkids. Temperatures in Southern Nevada hit triple digits on Tuesday, but at just eighty degrees outside, temperatures inside a closed car can hit 120 degrees in fifty minutes.
A dashboard or seat can heat up to 180 to 200 degrees. Child car seats also become hot spots that can burn a baby.
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