Guide: What to do in the event of heat damage?
Who would have thought it: just like decades ago, some cars go on strike in summer due to overheating. However, unlike in the past, the problem is not boiling cooling water, but the electronics. The AGVS garage mechanic knows how to prevent such damage. Especially in cars parked with a hot engine, the temperature under the hood in midsummer can rise to [...]
Especially when the car is parked with a hot engine, the temperature under the hood can rise to 100 degrees in midsummer due to the accumulated heat. Markus Peter, Head of Technology & Environment at AGVS: "As in winter, the same applies in summer: the car should be well maintained, all fluids should be up to date and topped up, and the air conditioning and ventilation should be checked. This is because excessive heat can cause hairline cracks in circuit boards due to thermal expansion and subsequent cooling, for example by the airstream. Such damage is not immediately noticeable. If the control unit then fails, the journey is over."
Freeway traffic jams pose further dangers for electronics
The typical freeway traffic jam poses further dangers for the electronics: If the engine is running in a traffic jam at high outside temperatures and is also giving off heat, cooling systems can reach their limits and previously damaged systems can finally give up the ghost. There is also a risk of damage if the car is left in the sun after a long journey with a high engine load. Markus Peter: "This is particularly true after driving over mountain passes, when the engine and electronics have already become very hot. The car should then be parked in the shade or in the garage. By the way: The noise of the radiator fan continuing to rotate, which can often be heard in summer even after the engine has been switched off, is not a defect. Quite the opposite. The activated radiator fan ensures that the heat built up in the engine compartment can be dissipated as quickly as possible." Very important: If the indicator lights for the airbag, ESP etc. light up, you should contact the nearest garage immediately.
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