Peak Hurricane Season in Houston: The Car Checklist That Actually Matters

The Gulf's hurricane season peaks around September 10, and a Fort Bend County evacuation means hours of stop-and-go on Highway 6 or 59 in 95-degree heat. That is the hardest thing you will ever ask of a car. Here is the short list we check for our own families every September.

Battery

Heat kills batteries, not cold, and a Houston battery is done in three to four years. A battery that starts the car fine in the driveway can quit after an hour of idling with the A/C on full. We load-test it in a minute; if it is marginal, September is the month to replace it.

Cooling system

Idling in a line of traffic with the A/C running is when a weak water pump, a cracked expansion tank, or a lazy cooling fan finally fails. A pressure test and a look at the fan operation catch it beforehand. Check the coolant level cold, and if the temperature gauge has ever crept above normal in traffic, tell us.

Tires and spare

Set pressures cold in the morning, look at the tread and the date code (tires older than six years are past it in this climate regardless of tread), and check that the spare is inflated and the jack is in the car. Many cars now ship with a sealant kit rather than a spare; know which you have.

Wipers, lights, and A/C

Wiper blades last about a year in Houston sun; replace them if they streak. Confirm every light works. If the A/C has been blowing warm at idle, that is a leak or a weak compressor, and sitting in evacuation traffic is not where you want to discover it.

Fuel and the small things

Keep the tank above half from now through October. Put a phone charger, water, a flashlight, and a printed copy of your insurance card in the glove box. If a warning light has been on for a while, this is the month to have it read properly rather than hoping.

We do a season check in about thirty minutes: battery load test, cooling-system pressure test, tire pressures and dates, wipers, lights, and a quick A/C performance check. Call or text and we will tell you the current wait.