Summer driving tips - how to avoid a summer breakdown

Many drivers don't realise that the summer heat can be just as hard on cars as the chill of winter.

But don't worry, there are some easy things you can do and check to keep your summer driving in Hertfordshire on track.

Find out how to spot common breakdowns before they happen, what to pack in case of emergencies and the vital pre-journey checks you should be doing to keep you moving this summer.

Five most common summer breakdowns (and how to avoid them)

Battery-related problems

Batteries are the number one offender for causing a summer breakdown. Car batteries have a hard time in winter, but summer can be little easier on them.

Battery issues rise due to increased stop-start activity, not just in traffic, but more short journeys when people are at home or at holiday destinations.

Also, in situations where the whole family is loaded up on long journeys, often in slow traffic with increased number of entertainment devices plugged in; phones, tablets, gaming, dvd’s, sat navs and more, a lot more demand is placed on the battery and the alternator.

What’s more, if you’re crawling in slow traffic, the car’s electrical system may not be generating enough power to replenish this battery drain.

A warning sign the battery is getting low is lethargic starting, also lights might appear dimmer or take longer to turn on and it's possible not all electrics work, such as dashboard lights.

If your battery is ageing, consider replacing it before a long summer road trip. Three-year replacement cycles are a good rule of thumb, as problems can set in once batteries get to four or five years of age.

Be wary about taking lots of short journeys in the summer too, particularly if you have multiple devices plugged in.

If you are using your car regularly for short trips, it may be worth checking and charging your battery at least once a week, particularly if it is more than three years old.

We would also recommend a car battery comfort indicator to help monitor the battery’s condition.

If you are finding that the battery isn’t holding a charge very well at all then it might be time to replace it. 

Tyres

For some car owners, the annual holiday is easily the longest trip they'll take in their car all year.

This can soon highlight any lurking issues with tyres. Cracked, aged rubber may just cope with a run to the shops, but might rapidly fail if subjected to more intensive use.

Poor preparation leads to more blowouts as tyres should be checked before any long journey, also during the summer months tyre blowouts often occur on caravans and trailers too - tyre checks are not always carried out on caravans and trailers like they are on your car.

Visual inspections will show cracks or distortions in the rubber, if you regularly check your tyre pressures and notice one tyre often has a lower pressure than the others it could be a sign that it has a slow puncture and needs replacing, or that perhaps the valve is faulty.

It’s vital you check the condition of your tyres, and your tyre pressures, before embarking on a long journey – check against what it says in the car (or caravan/trailer) manual.

Remember, you need to increase tyre pressure to the correct PSI if you’re planning on carrying heavy loads, such as a car full of luggage and people, before you set off.

You'll find the correct PSI levels you need to inflate your tyres to on the inside of the doorframe or in your owner's manual.

Punctures without a spare

Believe it or not third on the list is where someone has had a puncture, but their vehicle doesn't have a spare.

A puncture can happen at any time - but with many drivers covering more miles in the summer on a greater variety of roads, it can be more likely to happen during the holidays. Particularly when cars are heavily laden with passengers and luggage, putting extra stress on the rubber.

Some drivers might think it’s not a problem, until they open the boot and discover their car doesn’t have a spare wheel, but a tyre repair kit instead. These can work if it’s a minor puncture, but if the tyre is ripped, torn or shredded, a tyre repair kit will be no use.

How to prevent this one is pretty straightforward - check if your vehicle has a spare tyre before you set off.

If it has a tyre puncture repair kit, it's worth familiarising yourself with how this works. 

Clutch

Your clutch can take a real beating in the summer.

Busier roads mean they will be used more in slow-moving traffic, while driving on unfamiliar roads in remote locations also takes its toll.

Driving in unfamiliar locations, perhaps when you weren't expecting hills or altered terrains often results in added strain on your clutch.

However, a big cause of clutch failure is towing, if you have a caravan and it is incorrectly loaded, this will accentuate any issues, and soon reveal any pre existing clutch issues. Mix together a worn clutch with a heavy caravan and a hilly holiday location, and you’ve got a recipe for clutch failure.

Clutches don’t normally just fail, there usually are signs of wear beforehand, such as a heavy or gritty pedal, a high clutch bite or, simply, signs that your clutch is slipping when you accelerate hard in a high gear at low speed.

Firstly, familiarise yourself with your route and the local roads around your holiday destination.

Secondly, if you are towing, you need to prepare and ensure your car has the right towing capacity for your caravan or trailer. 

Getting it changed, isn’t always as expensive as you may fear, and a lot cheaper and less stressful than a holiday breakdown.

Alternator

Alternator issues are related to battery-related problems; this time, it’s excessive demand on the alternator that can cause issues to arise. The drag from connecting more power-hungry devices, combined with hotter weather, will quickly highlight any weaknesses.

A sign the alternator may be failing is the car’s red battery warning light flickering or fully illuminating on the dashboard. It’s red for a reason: pull over and stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so.

Alternator replacements are not cheap and fitting a new alternator is not the work of a moment. Often, you’ll need a new drive belt on top, adding further expense. 

Source: RAC.CO.UK 

At Brian Robson Coachworks, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, we offer a range of summer vehicle health checks from £25. Our technicians will carry out a full point inspection on your vehicle, including check your tyres, lights, wiper blades, top up your screen wash, thoroughly inspect your cars components and features, and wash your vehicle inside and out.