Beating the Arkansas heat: your A/C and cooling system

The Car Doc · Hot Springs, AR · 5 min read

An Arkansas summer is hard on a car. Two systems carry the load: the air conditioning that keeps you comfortable, and the cooling system that keeps your engine alive. Here’s how to stay ahead of both before July gets here.

If your A/C isn’t as cold as it used to be

Air conditioning that’s gone lukewarm is usually low on refrigerant, and low refrigerant usually means there’s a small leak somewhere. Just “topping it off” without finding the leak is a band-aid — it’ll be warm again by next summer. We find the leak, fix it, and recharge it so it actually stays cold.

The cooling system is the one that strands you

A/C is comfort. The cooling system is survival — for your engine. Overheating is one of the fastest ways to do real, expensive damage. Before the heat sets in, it’s worth a look at:

• Coolant level and condition — old coolant loses its protection
• Hoses — soft, swollen, or cracked hoses are about to fail
• The radiator and cap — leaks and weak caps cause overheating
• The water pump and thermostat — the parts that move and regulate the coolant

Watch your temperature gauge

Get in the habit of glancing at it, especially in stop-and-go traffic on a hot day. If it climbs toward the red, turn off the A/C, turn the heater on full (it actually pulls heat off the engine), and get somewhere safe. If it overheats, don’t keep driving — that’s how a cheap repair becomes a new engine.

A little prevention

A summer once-over on these two systems is cheap insurance against a roadside breakdown in 100-degree heat. Come see us in the spring and we’ll make sure you’re ready for it.