Taking care of your car in extreme heat

The extreme heat can take a toll on your car. It can affect your car's air conditioning, tires, and battery. With triple-digit temperatures, it's important to make sure your car is in good shape so you're not stuck on the side of the road.

The owner of Sergio's Automotive, Sergio Cevallo, said he's already seeing more cars come in because of overheating.

"The overheating problems especially in this weather- it's the worst enemy for the cars," said Cevallo

The hotter the pavement, the stronger the pressure can get in your tires. One California Highway Patrol officer said tire blowouts tend to be more common this time of year.

"'The heat caused from the friction of the tires and the asphalt could cause some pretty dangerous conditions if your tires aren't prepared," said CHP officer Ramon Perez.

Cevallo said the heat can also cause the important fluid in your car battery to evaporate. Some batteries have a gauge to let you check the water level. You have to check it regularly because before you know it, your battery can be dead.

"Make sure your battery is not sweating," said Cevallo. "You can see it right away sweating."

The desert sand can also become an issue. The strong winds kick up the sand and can cause your air filter to get clogged. This can affect the rest of your car.

"You lose performance and use more fuel," said Cevallo.

It can make your air conditioning lose power which in this heat, you don't want to be without.
When parked, leaving the window open just a crack can help your car stay a little cooler.

"If you see your car overheating or leaking fluids, the smart thing to do is take it to the shop," said Cevallo. "Don't try to open the hood and see what you find out because sometimes it can be dangerous."

Being aware of your car's condition is key.

"Make sure to check all the fluid, tire pressure at least every week especially in this kind of weather," said Cevallo.