Car trouble in St. George
St. George shares Utah's all-time heat record, and summer heat is the biggest factor in local car repairs. It's hard on batteries, cooling systems, air conditioning and tires.
Heat
A reading of 117°F at the St. George cooperative weather station on July 10, 2021 tied Utah's all-time maximum temperature record, first set in 1985. Inside a parked car, it gets far hotter. Heat is the main enemy of car batteries; it speeds up the chemical wear inside them, and many fail suddenly in summer or on the first cool morning after. Ask for a load test if your battery is two or three years old.
Cooling systems work at their limit in that heat. Ask the shop to check coolant condition and level, hoses, the radiator cap and the fan. A cooling system that's fine in spring can overheat in July traffic.
Air conditioning
In St. George, AC isn't a comfort option; it's a necessity. If it's blowing warm, ask the shop to find the leak before recharging. A system that needs a recharge every summer has a leak. Ask whether the compressor, condenser fan and cabin filter have been checked.
Tires
Heat raises tire pressure and speeds up the breakdown of rubber. Check pressure in the morning, before driving. Ask the shop to look for cracks in the sidewalls on older tires, even if the tread looks good.
Students and new drivers
Utah Tech University in St. George enrolled 13,167 students in fall 2024. Many students drive older cars that have never been through a desert summer. If you're buying an older car, have a shop check the cooling system, battery and AC before you need them.
Flash floods
In January 2005, flooding along the Santa Clara River in St. George caused severe damage to homes. Summer thunderstorms can also flood washes and low roads quickly. Never drive into flowing water. A car that has been in flood water needs its fluids, brakes, electrical connections and interior checked; ask the shop what they'd inspect.
Dust and filters
Desert dust clogs engine air filters and cabin air filters faster than the maintenance schedule may assume. A clogged cabin filter cuts airflow from the air conditioning. Ask the shop to show you both filters at each oil change. Dust also wears wiper blades and windshields; replace blades that streak, since summer storms arrive suddenly.
Before you approve a repair
Ask for a written estimate that lists parts and labor and says whether parts are new, rebuilt or used. Ask to be called before any additional work. Ask for your old parts back. For major repairs, a second opinion is reasonable.