How Stop-and-Go Traffic on the 10 and 60 Freeways Is Hurting Your Car’s AC

Andrew Bray • June 4, 2026

If you drive in Pomona, you already know the routine. You merge onto the 10 heading west toward Montclair or hop on the 60 toward Industry, and within minutes you are sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic that barely moves. By the time you crawl past the Garey Avenue interchange or inch your way through the Holt Avenue surface street overflow, your AC is blasting on full and your engine is working twice as hard as it should.

What most drivers do not realize is that this daily grind is quietly doing serious damage to one of the most important comfort systems in your vehicle. We see it constantly in the cars and trucks that roll into our shop. The culprit is almost always the same: prolonged stop-and-go driving in extreme heat.

Why Stop-and-Go Driving Is So Hard on Your AC System

Your vehicle's air conditioning system was designed to operate most efficiently when the engine is running at a steady speed. Highway cruising at 55 to 65 miles per hour keeps coolant flowing properly, the compressor cycling at a healthy rate, and the condenser getting enough airflow to release heat.

Stop-and-go traffic changes all of that. When you are sitting still or barely rolling on the 10 near the Pomona Freeway interchange, here is what is actually happening inside your AC system.

The Compressor Takes a Beating

The AC compressor is driven by a belt connected to your engine. Every time you accelerate hard from a dead stop, which happens constantly in traffic near the 60 and Towne Avenue area, the compressor experiences a spike in load. This repeated stress wears down the compressor clutch over time. We have seen compressors fail in vehicles that are only three or four years old simply because the owner spent years commuting through some of the worst congestion in LA County.

Heat Builds Up Faster Than Your System Can Handle It

When your car is not moving, your condenser relies almost entirely on the electric cooling fan to push air through it. That fan is working hard, but it cannot match the cooling effect of driving at speed. On a July afternoon sitting on the 10 near Indian Hill Boulevard, outside temperatures can exceed 100 degrees in Pomona. Your condenser is trying to dump heat into air that is already scorching hot. This causes refrigerant pressure to spike, and over time it stresses seals, hoses, and fittings throughout the system.

Low Refrigerant Gets Worse Faster

If your AC system already has a small refrigerant leak, stop-and-go driving accelerates the damage. The pressure swings from constant acceleration and braking cause those small leaks to widen. What starts as slightly warm air on your Pomona commute turns into a fully blown AC failure by summer. We recommend getting your system checked at the first sign of reduced cooling, especially before the heat season hits.

What Pomona Drivers Should Watch For

Living and driving near the 10 and 60 corridor means your AC system is under stress almost every day. Here are the warning signs we want you to pay attention to.

Your AC is blowing air that feels warm or only slightly cool even when set to maximum. You notice a clicking or grinding sound when the AC kicks on. Your engine temperature gauge creeps higher than usual in traffic. You smell something musty or chemical-like coming from the vents.

Any one of these signs means it is time to bring your vehicle in before a small issue becomes an expensive repair.

How We Help Pomona Drivers Stay Cool

We perform full AC system inspections, refrigerant recharges, compressor replacements, and condenser repairs. We understand the specific demands that Pomona's traffic and climate put on your vehicle because we work on local cars every single day. Whether you drive surface streets through Downtown Pomona or spend your mornings on the 60 near Cal Poly Pomona, we are here to make sure your AC can handle it.

Do not wait until your car feels like a moving oven to get help. Schedule an appointment before the peak summer heat hits and protect your investment.