Record-breaking heat damages cars: your brakes may fail or your tires may fail

This summer, Texas again suffered from a historic heat wave. It destroys the rubber parts in the windshield wipers and reduces the effectiveness of the brakes, reports Jalopnik.

Photo: IStock

Austin is currently experiencing the second longest period ever recorded with temperatures never falling below 37,7C. While major cities like El Paso and Fort Worth also suffer from extended heatwaves. Auto mechanics in Texas are now finding unusual effects of hot weather on cars, including broken wipers, scraping windshields, and weak brakes.

Wipers, batteries, tires

Bosch technicians say service stations in Texas are facing the usual problems they've come to expect as the heat index rises. They range from dead car batteries that don't perform well in extreme heat, to flat tires that result from pressure loss due to the weather.

On the subject: The temperature in Death Valley reached an incredible 53,3 degrees: how the heat affects our body

Recently, these problems have been accompanied by unforeseen breakdowns as the heat destroys some materials, such as rubber in windshield wiper blades.

“People stop thinking about wiper blades—they don't need them until it rains,” said Bosch training manager Doc Watson. “You're driving in 44C temperatures, the heat is reflected off the glass, and this causes the rubber components of the wiper blade to deteriorate.”

Both heat and humidity can cause additional wear to the rubber components of windshield wipers, which typically last 12-18 months. But not only rubber suffers from the relentless heat, but plastic itself.

Like the article? Support ForumDaily!?

“In these extreme temperatures that you guys see, the plastic falls off the wiper blade itself and people don't realize it's happened until it's too late,” he said. “The wiper blade breaks and then the metal part scratches the glass.”

These scratchy metal parts can leave marks on glass surfaces that are difficult or even impossible to remove. Because of this, Watson recommends adding windshield wiper blades to your checklist of things to keep an eye on during the summer. The cost of replacing windshield wiper blades is nothing compared to the cost of an entire front windshield - especially nowadays. Windshields are worth more than ever because they are now part of advanced driver assistance systems.

Тормоза

Watson adds that the historic heat also has a negative effect on car brakes. Brake fluid in the master cylinder under the hood can trap moisture, and dangerously high temperatures in Texas can cause moisture to expand. This leads to a loss of sensitivity of the brake or its complete failure.

In Texas, Arizona and California, technicians are reporting instances of "brake failure" in vehicles. While extreme air temperatures can reach 37,7C and higher, the temperature under the hood of cars in summer can reach 110C.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read all this on ForumDaily New York.

Expansion of moisture within the fluid can cause the brake pedal to feel "soft" and require the vehicle owner to take the vehicle in for service.

Soft brake pedals as a result of extreme heat may be less unusual for those who have experienced it before. But this is unusual for people who don't drive very often and aren't used to the changes.

Watson concluded by saying that drivers in Texas should get into the habit of keeping an eye on their batteries, tires, coolant and engine oil levels, and now their wiper blades and brakes.

Read also on ForumDaily:

In August, we are waiting for a double supermoon: when and where to watch

In California, the bear decided to cool off and climbed into the jacuzzi

11-year-old millionaire hosts her 'retirement' party

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.