1. Timely wash the car after it gets rained on.
When encountering heavy rain, the car should be washed in a timely manner after returning; otherwise, mud may accumulate in the gaps underneath the vehicle. This is where moisture can hide and also the most likely place for rust to occur.
2. Paint surface beautification.
The acidic components in rainwater have an extremely strong corrosive effect on the car's paint surface, which over time can cause damage. Therefore, during seasons with more rain, it's best to give your car a paint surface beautification treatment. The simplest method is waxing, while a longer-lasting and more effective option is enameled beautification. No matter which method is chosen, it gives your car an invisible protective outer layer that prevents the fading and aging of the paint surface, keeping the car looking bright and shiny.
3. Chassis care.
The chassis is the part closest to the ground and is heavily affected by road conditions. This area is usually the first to show signs of rust corrosion, and even the wheel wells might loosen or develop holes. Therefore, attention must be paid to the cleaning and rust prevention treatment of the car chassis. A single rust prevention treatment for the chassis can last up to 3 months. After completing the rust prevention care, it’s important not to use alkaline cleaning agents to rinse the body and chassis, as this will affect the rust prevention effect and shorten the rust prevention duration.
4. Ignition start.
On rainy days, car owners often encounter issues where the engine is hard to start, and sometimes even if it does start勉强, it lacks power. The most probable reason could be leakage caused by dampness in the ignition system. Additionally, when it rains and the weather cools down, the warm air sealed inside the distributor might condense into water droplets, causing a small flood inside the distributor, thus losing its normal ignition function. If it's found that the poor ignition and decreased engine performance are due to dampness in the ignition system, it’s best to first dry the distributor inside and out, as well as the wires, using dry paper towels or dry cloth. Then use a specialized drying agent spray can to spray the drying agent onto areas such as the distributor cap, battery terminals, spark plugs, high voltage wires, and ignition coils. After waiting for a while, the engine can then be started.
5. Brake water removal.
Most passenger car braking systems are dual-circuit vacuum-assisted hydraulic brakes. It's worth noting that brake fluid, which transmits braking force, has an extremely strong water-absorbing property. If water enters the brake fluid, the heat generated during braking can cause the water to vaporize. Since gases are compressible, their compression in the brake fluid can lead to brake failure or complete ineffectiveness. When there is more rain, the humidity in the air increases, and if the brake fluid already contains a small amount of water before the rainy season, it can be quite dangerous. On some vehicles with severely water-absorbed brake fluid, water droplets can be seen on the brake fluid reservoir cap. Therefore, during maintenance, it is essential to check the brake fluid to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers.
6. Wiper maintenance.
An increase in rainfall inevitably places more responsibility on the wipers. Because both the road conditions and visibility during rainy days are unfavorable for driving, if the wipers cannot effectively remove the rainwater, it poses a great danger to your driving safety. At this point, the wipers play a very important role, so checking and maintaining them should be done carefully and thoroughly.
7. Regularly use the air conditioning.
For indoor dehumidification, turning on the air conditioning is the best method. Even if the weather is cool, setting the temperature and turning on the air conditioning at the same time will not reduce the heating effect; instead, it can enhance the dehumidifying function. Once the weather clears up, park the car in the sun to expose it to sunlight, open all four doors and windows to allow indoor air circulation, and the heated car body will quickly expel the accumulated internal moisture. When the car is not in use, desiccants can replace the air conditioning for dehumidification, and air fresheners also have many benefits, saving electricity and allowing uninterrupted use for a long time with just two batteries. With these two items, you no longer need to worry about damp and turbid air rushing at you every time you open the car door.
8. Audio system moisture prevention.
During rainy days, the humidity increases, and a layer of mist often forms on the surface of the CD disc, which can cause reading difficulties. It's best to clean it once every certain period of time. When installing the CD drive to avoid moisture, do not install it under the floorboard or seats; it’s better to install it higher up on the body of the car, but not near the rear windshield, as high temperatures can accelerate the aging of electronic components and the laser head. In addition, to prevent the audio system from getting damp, a small dehumidifier box can be placed in the rear luggage compartment, ensuring it stays steady during driving so it won't tip over. Every so often, open the trunk to inspect.