How To Prevent Sun Damage To Your Motor

Summer has finally arrived. The sun is shining, another heatwave on its way! What more could us Brits want after a long, cold gloomy winter? However, just like the sun can damage our skin, it can take its toll on our motors too.

It’s difficult to avoid the sun’s UV rays when you drive around all day or your car is parked in direct sunlight. While modern paintwork is pretty fade-resistant your car is not immune to the effects of sun damage – on the inside or out.

As the Mercury rises, the chances of sun-related damage increase too. Auto Medics, your friendly, local car body shop Loudwater, is here to keep you informed on how to protect your precious motor. Check out our tips:

Defend Your Dashboard

Your dashboard takes the full force of the sunlight throughout the day. Protect your dashboard from baking under the sun’s heat by parking in the shade or making use of your garage. Of course, these options aren’t always available, and even if you park in the shade, by the time you’ve done a day’s work the sun will have shifted anyway.

Invest in a sun shade. It will reflect the sun’s rays away from your car, preventing your dash from fading and when you return after a long day away, you won’t feel like you are entering a sauna.

Safeguard Your Seats

UV rays can cause your seats to fade or crack over time depending on their material. You can take preventative measures to stop fading by investing in seat covers. Added benefits include the ability to wash seat covers when they get dirty. If you have leather seats you can apply a leather protectant that can protect them from the sun to keep them looking shiny and new.

Preserve your Paintwork

Although your paintwork has built-in UV protection, this doesn’t guarantee there won’t be some fading over the years.

Whenever possible it’s advisable to avoid parking in direct sunlight, try parking in the shade or if available, in a garage.

Wash your car weekly and wax approximately every 3 weeks to preserve your paintwork. Washing removes any damaging abrasives and wax provides a protective layer.

Tend To Your Tyres

Direct sunlight can cause premature deterioration of your tyres. UV rays can penetrate the rubber, drying it out, which can lead to the breakdown of rubber compounds. Limit sun exposure as much as possible and regularly apply a protectant to stop your tyres from drying out.

Contact Your Local Car Body Shop Loudwater

Just like us, the sun’s UV rays can cause damage to our cars. Keeping your motor protected as much as possible will ensure your car stays in tip-top condition. Should your paintwork sustain sun damage, Auto Medics – car body shop Loudwater – offers resprays and paintwork repair. Get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation quotation to restore your paintwork and get your car looking as good as new again.

When you visit Auto Medics, no job is too big or too small. Other services we offer at our car body shop Loudwater include:

• Alloy wheel refurbishment
• Diamond cut alloys
• Interior repairs
• Dashboard & trim services
• MOTs & servicing
• Tyres supplied & fitted
• Fleet Maintenance
• Machine polishing/buffing
• Window tinting
• Body kit repairs & fitting
• Replacement bulbs, wiper blades and batteries

What’s more, we offer a free local collection service for your added convenience. So contact us today on 01494 533 534 and book your motor in at your friendly, local car body shop.