The auto club says it’s responded to almost 5400 calls for service earlier this week.
Baltimore, Md. (KM) – From Sunday through Tuesday, AAA Mid-Atlantic says it responded to nearly 5400 calls for service during the hot weather. Ragina Ali, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for the auto club, says many of the calls were for dead batteries, and tire-related calls.
She says it’s important to make sure your battery can power up your vehicle in this hot weather. “If you have a battery that’s more than three to five years old, it’s certainly more likely to succumb to extreme temperatures,” Ali says. “Oftentimes, you hear people think the batteries are only impacted in the winter when it’s really cold. But, actually, the heat is even worse on your battery.”
Ali says you also need to be cognizance of how your tires react to the intense heat. “Make sure that your tires are not under inflated,”: she says. “Certainly, if they are, that can cause them to overheat and increase the likelihood of a blowout. And that is even more of a concern when the road temperatures are extremely high as well.”
Other advice from AAA include making sure all of your car’s fluids are at their proper levels, including motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and brake fluid; and don’t forget about your vehicle’s coolant. “Motorists should check the coolant level in the overflow tank and top off as needed,” Ali says. “If the engine is cool, check the level in the radiator as well. And never, ever remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot.”
AAA says keep an emergency kit in your car which should include snacks, water, flashlights, jumper cables, a fully charged cell phone and a charger. “We stress the importance of that in the winter months, but it’s just as important in the summer months,” says Ali.
If you break down on the road, AAA says safely move their vehicles off the road as far as possible, and turn on their hazard lights. Then call for help.
By Kevin McManus