Heat wave taking its toll on automobiles

Monday, July 25, 2005 | 9:18 a.m.

Some of them are dusty and hot after waiting on the side of the road for a friend to pick them up. Others are sweaty, having abandoned their cars and walked.

None of them, said Chris Kelso, manager of the Auto Zone store in the 3500 block of South Decatur Boulevard, are happy.

"You burst a hose or blow a tire on the highway, it's a real downer on your day," said Kelso, whose automotive supplies store has seen a boom in sales with the ongoing heat wave. "I don't blame some people if they're in a bad mood by the time they get here."

Last week Kelso's store sold 185 batteries, compared with the typical rate of 50 to 60 in cooler weather. Sales have also been brisk for hoses, transmission and other fluids as well as jumper cables and tire patching supplies.

And repair shops are also logging sizable jumps in calls. Nick Rupp, manager of T and M Automotive in the 500 block of East Silverado Ranch Boulevard, said Friday the earliest opening he had was the end of this week.

"I've got people waiting all over the place," Rupp said.

At Around the Clock Tire in North Las Vegas, co-owner Danny Segura said he's been putting in extra hours in order to keep up with demand. He was selling more than 50 tires a day, compared with his typical average of 15 to 20.

The heat isn't the only factor for the rapid demise of tires, Segura said.

"Most people don't have their tires at the right pressure already," Segura said. "If it's a little too much, the heat will put it over the top, and the tire just can't take it."

He advised motorists to check their tires and tire pressure before hitting the road, particularly if highway travel is involved.

"When a tire blows doing 80 on I-15, that's what causes a lot of accidents," Segura said.

Sean Comey, spokesman for Nevada AAA, agreed.

With the engine shut off, the automobile association recommends, motorists to examine belts for worn spots or cracks and look for damaged or blistered hoses. Motorists should also check coolant and motor oil levels, Comey said.