How Rainy Weather Affects Your Car or Truck

There are plenty of beautiful days to enjoy each year throughout the North Idaho region. Of course, as any local will know, there are also some days when it’s a better plan to stay inside and let the rain pour down. All that greenery we are surrounded with doesn’t happen by accident, after all – plenty of rain is required to keep this place so pretty.

When you do have to venture out into the rain, you need to have a vehicle that is ready for the challenge. In this post, we are going to discuss how rainy weather can affect your car or truck and what you can do to avoid running into too many problems.

If you need any kind of work performed on your vehicle – from a simple oil change to a more complicated repair – the team at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet is ready to get down to work right away. Simply give us a call or stop by our location and we’ll be happy to work with you on the project. Thank you for considering Taylor & Sons!

Plenty of Potential Problems

Let’s get started by talking about what it is that could happen to your vehicle when exposed to ongoing rain throughout the fall and winter months in North Idaho. Of course, vehicles are meant to be used outside, so they are designed to deal with rain, but sometimes things happen that can lead to problems either in the short- or long-term.

• Exterior damage. One of the issues that can accumulate over time is damage to the exterior of your car or truck. It might not seem like rainwater would be a big deal in terms of the exterior condition of the vehicle, but when it teams up with the grime that your vehicle naturally picks up on the road, the result can be corrosion. This is why it’s actually quite important to keep your vehicle clean, even during the wet season. By cleaning off the grime regularly, the rainwater will be more likely to just roll right off without doing any harm.
• Interior damage. Most of the time, your vehicle is going to be effective at keeping rain from getting inside. However, the seals that do the work of keeping water out can become damaged or degrade over time, and moisture might start to seep in. If that happens, it’s possible for all sorts of damage to occur, including the development of mold. If you notice any signs of water getting into the vehicle it’s important to address that problem right away so it doesn’t accelerate and lead to bigger issues.
• Safety concerns. In addition to the damage that rain can potentially do to your car or truck, there are also safety concerns to keep in mind while driving in the rain. Anytime you are driving in rainy conditions, you have to be aware of a loss of traction on the roadway. That reduced traction is going to make it harder for you to brake in a timely manner, especially if your tires are a bit worn. Some of the things you can do to stay safe while driving in the rain include increasing your following distance, making sure there is plenty of tread left on your tires, and turning your lights on even during the day.

It’s really not practical in North Idaho to just stay home when it rains – there are too many rainy days for that kind of plan to work out in your favor. However, with a good plan and some attention to the fundamental points as highlighted above, you can safely navigate rainy roads without doing any unwanted damage to your car or truck.

Staying Ahead of the Rain Game

There are many steps you can take to mitigate or completely eliminate the damage that rain may be able to do to your vehicle. Fortunately, most of these steps are relatively minor things, yet they can make a big impact.

• New wiper blades. We mentioned above that it is important to make sure you have tires that are in good condition when driving in the rain. That’s probably the most important safety step for rainy days, but you also should pay attention to your wipers. Without good wipers, you won’t be able to get a good look at the road when the rain really comes down. Fortunately, wipers are an affordable part to replace, and you can probably pop them into place yourself (of course, we’ll also be happy to help with that task).
• Park undercover. If at all possible, it’s a big advantage to park your vehicle in a covered spot when not in use. You can’t do anything about the car or truck getting wet when you head out into the world, but providing it with shelter from the rain while it is parked at home will protect its condition nicely. An enclosed garage is the ideal solution, but even an open-sided carport will keep the rain off of the top of the vehicle and help to keep it in good shape moving forward.
• Keep up with maintenance. Finally, do your best to keep up with regular maintenance visits for your vehicle by coming into Taylor & Sons Chevrolet at consistent intervals. Keeping up with the maintenance that is suggested in your owner’s manual will help the vehicle remain in proper working order so you can rely on it when the rain is really coming down.

Let’s Get Started!

At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, it’s our honor to serve the great people that we call our friends and neighbors in North Idaho. With a reliable service department staffed with some of the best in the business, you can trust putting your vehicle in our hands. Of course, if it’s time to shop for a new or used vehicle, we will be happy to help you on that front, as well. We can’t wait to serve you!

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