Here in Marietta, we know a thing or two about summer. It’s not just the heat; it’s the thick, soupy humidity that hangs in the air for months. While we’re all looking for ways to stay cool, it’s easy to forget that our cars are suffering right alongside us.

At Advantage Auto Service, we see it every year. As soon as the temperatures climb into the 90s, our bays fill up with vehicles struggling with the exact same heat-related issues. It’s not a coincidence. The combination of intense heat and stop-and-go traffic puts an incredible strain on your vehicle’s most critical systems.

As your local mechanics, we want to pull back the curtain on what’s really happening under your hood during a Georgia summer, so you can avoid being stranded on the side of I-75.

Your AC is Working Overtime

The most obvious victim of a Georgia summer is your air conditioning. When it’s 95 degrees outside, your AC system is working at maximum capacity just to keep the cabin bearable. This constant, heavy load is the number one reason we see AC systems fail. 

• The Warm Air Problem: If your AC is blowing warm, the most common culprit is low refrigerant, which almost always means there’s a leak somewhere in the system.  
  

• Compressor Failure: The AC compressor is the heart of the system, and it can fail under the relentless strain of our summers.    

A working AC isn’t a luxury here; it’s a necessity. Don’t wait for it to fail on the hottest day of the year.

The Real Battery Killer Isn’t the Cold

It’s a common myth that cold weather is what kills car batteries. While frigid temperatures can make a weak battery show its age, it’s the scorching summer heat that does the real, lasting damage.  

The intense heat under your hood accelerates the chemical reactions inside the battery, causing vital fluids to evaporate and degrading its internal structure. A battery that was just fine in the spring can die suddenly during the first major heatwave, leaving you stranded.  

The Danger of Overheating in Traffic

Your engine’s cooling system is designed to dissipate heat, but it relies on airflow to do its job. When you’re stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Cobb Parkway, there’s very little air moving across the radiator. This forces the cooling fan to run constantly and puts the entire system under immense stress.  

Combine that with the summer heat, and you have a recipe for an overheating engine. This can cause serious and expensive damage if not addressed immediately.  

Your Local Experts for Summer Car Care

Your vehicle doesn’t have to fall victim to the Georgia heat. A little preventative maintenance can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration. Before the summer gets into full swing, it’s a great idea to have your key systems checked.

At Advantage Auto Service, we live here, we drive here, and we know exactly what your car is up against. If you’re worried about your car’s readiness for the summer, pull into our shop. We’ll perform an inspection of your battery and AC system to make sure you’re prepared. No pressure, no obligation—just honest advice from your neighborhood mechanics to help you and your car keep your cool all summer long.