The summer months and their humid temperatures are officially in full swing, which means summer maintenance is, too. Vehicle heat failures are predictable, and yet many fleets still suffer from preventable downtime. The most commonly overlooked vulnerability, according to maintenance manager Jenny Baker from Mike Albert, is cooling systems and "Batteries! Summer heat is extremely hard on batteries, so they should be inspected before the hot weather hits.”

Heat accelerates battery degradation, increasing the likelihood of no-start situations that can take vehicles out of service unexpectedly. Testing batteries before temperatures rise can help fleets avoid costly roadside service calls.

Cooling and AC Systems

Beyond batteries, two vehicle systems are particularly vulnerable during the summer months: the air conditioning and engine cooling systems.

"Two vehicle systems that take a hard hit in the summer are the AC system and the engine cooling system," Baker said. 

Spring preventative maintenance can help address both of these issues before they occur.

"AC systems should be checked in the spring for both overall performance and freon levels, so that any issues are caught well before the heat of summer creates an urgent problem."

Cooling systems deserve the same level of attention.

Vehicle coolant should also be checked in the spring, with particular attention to leaks and to verifying that the thermostat is operating correctly.

Neglecting these inspections can lead to one of the most common summer-related breakdowns: overheating. Combined with battery failures, overheating events account for many of the service disruptions fleets experience during hot weather.

"The two most common summer breakdowns that could have been prevented are no-starts caused by battery failure and overheating from neglected cooling systems," she said. 

The Small Maintenance Investments that Deliver

When it comes to preventive maintenance, fleets often focus on inspections, but other practices can also play an important role in reducing downtime.

More frequent oil changes can deliver some of the greatest ROI for fleets during the summer season because oil breaks down faster in warmer weather, Baker said. 

More frequent service intervals also create opportunities to identify developing issues before they become costly repairs.

"By getting oil changes more often during the warmer months and pairing them with the proper inspections each time, fleet managers can reduce unplanned downtime," she said. 

Telematics’ Role in Preventing Summer Breakdowns

Technology can help fleets move beyond scheduled maintenance and toward a more proactive approach. Telematics and maintenance platforms provide valuable insight into vehicle health and performance trends, particularly during periods of extreme heat.

"Telematics and maintenance data are powerful tools for getting ahead of summer-related vehicle issues before they result in a breakdown."

By monitoring key indicators, fleet managers can identify problems before drivers become stranded.

Staying Consistent

Ultimately, the fleets that avoid recurring summer downtime tend to share one characteristic: consistency.

When asked to give fleet managers one piece of advice to improve summer fleet readiness this year, she was direct. 

Baker’s response: “Be consistent and formalize that consistency into a weather readiness policy."

That policy should outline the preventive measures needed to keep vehicles operating reliably throughout the season. The policy should specifically include more frequent oil changes during summer months, scheduled inspections for AC systems, battery testing, and cooling system checks.

The payoff extends beyond reliability.

"Lower overall costs are both the goal and the result of doing summer readiness the right way," Baker said.

For fleet managers, summer maintenance is less about reacting to heat-related failures and more about preventing them through planning and inspection.

About Jenny Baker: With over 30 years of dedicated experience in the automotive industry, Jenny Baker-Ford brings expertise to her role as Maintenance Manager at Mike Albert. Since joining the company in April 2019, she has leveraged her extensive knowledge of vehicle service requirements across multiple manufacturers to develop tailored maintenance strategies that minimize downtime and optimize fleet performance.

Throughout her career, Jenny has maintained a commitment to professional development and industry certifications. As an ASE Certified professional, she brings technical credibility to her leadership role. Her skill set encompasses project management, continuous improvement methodologies, and comprehensive knowledge of automotive products and services.

Prior to joining Mike Albert, Jenny held service and warranty roles at Lexus and Toyota dealerships and at Busam Automotive.