In Arizona, sun damage is a very critical concern for your car as the exterior/interior of your vehicle impacts the trade-in or overall value. At Valley Car Group, we want to help ensure that your vehicle stays protected in case you ever want to sell it to us or trade it in!

How to Protect the Interior of Your Car from Sun Damage:

  • Park in the shade. This is the easiest form of protection. By avoiding direct sunlight, you'll keep your dash from drying and cracking. If it's safe to do so, open the windows a crack to help lower the interior temperature and equalize the air pressure.
  • Use a windshield sun protector. This item can also keep your car cool and prevent sun damage. These visors are actually quite easy to unfold and can slide into place on your dash and block the sun.
  • Wipe dash with a microfiber cloth. Dust and dirt can cause tiny scratches that can become worse over time. Wipe down the dash frequently to remove all particles. A low-gloss detailing product will also protect it and reduce glare.
  • Install seat covers. Seat covers not only protect leather and fabric seats, but they also help keep them cool in high temperatures.
  • Protect leather seats with a conditioner. The sun and heat can really do a number on the seats of your car. To help avoid cracks or tears, keep seats clean, and apply leather conditioner every month.

How to Protect the Exterior of Your Car From Sun Damage:

  • Wash and dry often. Sun and heat can fade and crack your car’s paint. Frequent washing and hand drying help remove dirt and dust particles that can cause micro scratches and dull your car's finish.
  • Wax your car. A layer of wax between your car's finish and the sun's ultraviolet rays is a great way to help protect it. 
  • Check tire pressure. Hot pavement and under inflated tires can be a dangerous combination, and may lead to a blowout. Even good tires can lose about one pound of air pressure a month, so it's really important to check your tire pressure often when it's hot.

How to Keep Your Car’s System Cool:

  • Cooling System. In order to help protect your engine from overheating, make sure it is in good working order. Have your belts checked and your antifreeze/coolant drained. You should change belts and fluids on a regular basis, as recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.
  • Fluids. The possibility of overheating greatly increases when fluid levels are below recommended levels. Regularly check motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and brake fluid.
  • Battery. High temperatures can cause it to wear out and fail quicker. To prevent this, you need to have your vehicle's battery and complete charging system checked regularly by a professional mechanic to make sure it's functioning properly.
  • Air Conditioning. If your car's interior temperature isn't cool enough, the refrigerant charge level in the air conditioning system may be low or there may be a more serious problem.

Have any other sun damage prevention techniques in mind? Comment them below!

If you’re interested in selling your car, Valley Car Group will buy it! Click here to schedule a free appraisal today!