BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) - The sight alone gave Tanekka Webb chills.

"Last Friday my notch for the temperature started going up," she said.

That brought her and her ride to the Express Oil Change and Service Center on Birmingham's southeast side. It was there she met manager Doug Pike.

"If it's a hundred or a hundred and two outside, then you know the engine compartment is a lot hotter than that," Pike said.

Tanekka isn't the only person looking for a little help. Blazing temperatures are doing a number on vehicles and keeping mechanics plenty busy.

"A lot of things can happen be it winter or summer. It's best to just keep everything top notch," Pike continued.
  
And to stay top notch-- he says stay topped off. Be sure your engine coolant is full. It's not a bad idea to give it a check at least once a week. Keep an eye on the oil level too.

Experts say if you're on the road and your car starts to overheat, crank up the heater. It may not be comfortable but it will buy you a little time to get to a repair shop.

"I know it's hot, roll the windows down. When you turn the heat on it actually takes a little heat away from the engine so the engine won't get so hot," Pike continued.
 
It's the same advice he gave Tanekka.

"It helped me to be able to get from here, to get home and to be able to get back again to get my car fixed. it helped a whole lot," Webb said.

It helped enough for her to get a fairly quick and inexpensive fix before the problem got bigger.