Do you all worry about your cars sitting in the heat for long periods of time? (Austin: apartments, live in)

[Deelightful]

Hello everyone,

I know that your summer's can be extremely hot. I've heard that windows can blow out due to the heat. I've heard that car motors can also explode. What do you do about your cars when you are at work? I know that some of you also live in apartments, and you don't have garages to protect your cars. I've heard that it's not a good idea to leave your windows cracked, because you never know what might be waiting for you when you open the door. Do you have suggestions?

Thank you.

[intmd8r]

In Phoenix, if I had to park in the sun, I would always just crack my windows a tiny bit (the back ones when I had a four-door) and I ALWAYS used a sun shade in the windshield.

Never had any problems, mechanically or critter-wise.

My biggest complaint was just how hot the door handle and inside accessories would get! I actually had to keep driving gloves in the center console to use the shifter on my Z28 because it was aftermarket and metal. Ouch!!!

I assume I'll just do the same in Austin and be fine.

[centralaustinite]

Aw, come on! You are joking, right?

Exploding car motors? Engines run at temps far in excess of anything Mother Nature can do! Do you know how internal combustion engines work? Car windows are made of tempered glass and can withstand super high heat.

I have lived here almost 20 years and I've never had a garage! The simplest way to reduce internal heat and preserve your cloth or leather interior is heavy window tinting. You will notice that most cars here have the windows darkly tinted, it works wonders.

thanks for the giggle!

[TexasHorseLady]

I've lived in Austin 40 years, Texas 60 years, and have NEVER heard of the kinds of things you're talking about. So either this is a joke that you're trying to pull on us, or someone is pulling your leg.

Closest thing we've had to a garage in all that time was a carport.

No heavily tinted windows in all that time, either, come to that. But we have always had light colored vehicles - black's not a real good choice around here in the summer just because it makes your AC work a bit harder.

[CarnivalGal]

I've never heard of any of this either. THe only thing you need to worry about here is hail damage.

[luksky]

Uhh.....no. You're not from the warmer climates are you??????

[HappyTexan]

Here since 1996..have yet to see a car explode due to heat.
A nice rumor like that though would make travelling around here at lunchtime in August a breeze

I've got to practice this in front of a mirror and hold back bursting out in giggles:
"OMG..you drive during the heat of the day? Don't do that. Don't you know your car could explode from the heat ? No, it's not an old wives tale..it's for real"

[Deelightful]

I'm glad you had a laugh. I guess someone pulled a joke on me. I was told that heat can build up and cause window damage.

Also...No...I'm from Wisconsin. The extreme cold can cause your car not to start...I thought the opposite might be true for cars in the extreme heat.

Well...I'm glad to provide a laugh. Thanks for the answers.

[centralaustinite]

Well . . . I suppose there is a grain of truth in what you were told. We have a car that has untinted windows and has never been in a garage. We have had to replace three of the motors that raise and lower the windows, hot weather can be a contributing factor to that according to our mechanic. That car also has leather seats and the sun has done a number on them! But the car is 10 years old and paid for, plus it gets great gas mileage . . . so we accommodate its quirks!

The heat can cause headliners to come down and fade interiors but it is all minor stuff . . . ice and snow and the salt and chemicals used to combat them take a much bigger toll on auto exteriors. Cars that never experience a Wisconsin winter age pretty well.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by Deelightful

I'm glad you had a laugh. I guess someone pulled a joke on me. I was told that heat can build up and cause window damage.

Also...No...I'm from Wisconsin. The extreme cold can cause your car not to start...I thought the opposite might be true for cars in the extreme heat.

Well...I'm glad to provide a laugh. Thanks for the answers.

I'll let you in on a secret to so next time you have one up on a joke:

Jackalopes are not real no matter what people tell you