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CHARLOTTE – As the temperature heats up, more people are beginning to hit the road.

But before taking off, mechanics say drivers should make sure their cars are ready for the trip.

"Tire pressure would probably be at the top of the list," mechanic Kevin Brown said. "Especially with gas prices back up, a vehicle gets much better fuel efficiency if the tire is properly inflated."

Brown said maintaining a car is less expensive than making repairs. And with the hot summer months ahead, small problems could get much worse.

"A lot of people don't realize that heat is probably tougher on a battery than the cold," Brown said.

It's also more difficult on the engine cooling system. Mechanics are seeing a lot of problems with car belts and hoses.