Hopefully, your car, truck or SUV’s air conditioning is ready for the dog days of this Johnsburg summer ahead. Don’t be fooled – they are coming. They always do. For now, however, instead of blazing heat, we find ourselves in a Monsoon. Day after day, it’s rain and more rain. Oh, there are nice days in between but they’re far-too infrequent.

What does all this rain mean for your Johnsburg car, truck or SUV? When the sun is beating down on your car, it’s slowly burning the oils out of rubber tires and window gaskets, as well as fading that shiny finish on the vehicle. But the rain poses challenges your car, truck or SUV, too. Rust, corrosion, driving visibility, traction and an adverse effect on the vehicle’s finish are among the problems common in the wet season.

What should you do to ensure that your car, truck or SUV is prepared for all this rain? You’re not at the absolute mercy of the elements. Here are some things you should consider:

• Maintain the exterior finish of the car, truck or SUV: wash the car regularly to get rid of any elements left on the finish. And be sure to wax the vehicle, too. That was is like a protective shell over your vehicle’s finish.
• Clean water that gets inside the car, truck or SUV quickly. Forgot to close the windows before the rain rolled in? Rainwater that gets inside the car can effect electrical controls and wiring, initiate the deterioration of fabric and leather upholstery and leave a musty odor that’s difficult to get rid of.
• Check the rubber trim around windows. Water can get inside your doors and windows where parts will rust and corrode. Eventually, you may have trouble with the operation of the windows and rust may eat its way out from the inside of your doors and body panels.
• Make sure your washer fluid is full, operational and the wiper blades are in good condition. These are inexpensive ways to give yourself an edge in safely operating your vehicle while driving in the rain.
• Make sure your tires are in good shape and have plenty of traction. Good tires are essential on winter roads in these parts. However, wet summer roads are also slippery. Having tires that are in good condition, with good tread, will ensure that you have the traction to stay in control when summer throws a blanket of water over the roadways.