When Hot Holiday Weekend Ends, Car Troubles Begin, AAA Says

By David Schultz

Extreme heat - like the kind bearing down on the D.C. region - is taxing on engines, tires, fan belts, and the like.

"Everything that is made of rubber is impacted by this type of heat and is subject to breaking down.," John Townshend, with AAA Mid-Atlantic, says.

But that's especially true, he says, today: "We see this every three day holiday. The real problem comes on a Tuesday morning when we all head back to work and those cars won't start."

Townshend says that's because many people don't use their cars during the holiday weekend, and that can be tough on the battery.

"If it has any stress or strain," he says, "Boom! If my battery is weak, then it won't start."

That's why it's important, Townshend says, to keep your gas tank half full at all times, so if your car breaks down, you'll at least have air conditioning while you wait for a tow truck.