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4 simple ways to avoid car repairs

Posted at 2:30 PM, Jun 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-05 14:00:34-04

This heat has us all suffering... So imagine how your vehicle feels?

There are simple things you can do to stay safe and avoid costly repairs.

Maintenance will save you so much money but that doesn't mean you have to spend cash for maintenance... There are several things you can do on your own.

Howard Fleishman, owner of Community Tire Pros, says "When the car is cold, go out and feel the radiator hose and when you find it's getting soft, it's time to replace it or it could cause problems on the highway.

He adds, if it's 100 degrees outside then the pavement is closer to 160 degrees and that can cause all sorts of problems, including issues with your windshield wipers. He says it's a quick $15 part that can turn into a $300 repair. The plastic falls apart and the metal on the wiper can cut your windshield. Howard says the standard is to replace your wiper blades every year but in Arizona, it's every six months.

Tires are another thing that can fall apart because of this heat. Keep in mind that for every 10 degrees of temperature, you're going to raise the tire pressure by one pound so putting too much air in your tire can cause a blowout.

The problem for many people is knowing the tire pressure for your car.  Every tire shows its maximum pressure, but remember the tire itself can be on 100 different vehicles so don't use the number on the tire.  Howard says look in your owner's manual or door placard for the correct tire pressure.

And just because the tire looks good on the outside doesn't mean it's good on the inside so regularly have your tires checked by a professional, especially before a summer trip.

Finally, don't assume your battery is all good just because you paid a lot for it.  Howard says, "Even the best battery out there, that they say has a lifetime guarantee, will go somewhere between 30 and 35 months in Arizona."