Our auto shop is located in Kent, Washington, where it tends to be wet and cooler than in some other areas of America. If someone were to move here from a hot, dry climate, there are some maintenance areas that need more attention because of the difference in conditions.
Probably the most important thing for someone who moves to western Washington to understand is that it doesn’t really rain here every day of the year. We have seasons. Having seasons with temperature and weather changes can really affect cars.
Photo Credit: Robert S. Donovan via Compfight cc
When we go from hot to cold or from cold to hot, we always have a run of vehicles that won’t start. It’s because batteries can fail during temperature changes. It takes a whole lot less power to start a car when it’s hot outside than it does when it’s cold. This is something we see a lot of when people first move here — they’re here a couple of weeks and all of a sudden AAA is bringing their car in on a tow truck because their car doesn’t start.
Another thing that we see a lot of is air conditioning failures, mostly due to moisture in the air. A lot of people don’t realize this, but an air conditioner not only cools your car, but also defrosts windows and keeps moisture out. A well-functioning air conditioner is constantly pulling moisture out of the inside of the car. We all know that if you keep something wet for too long, things tend to mold and mildew.
It’s really crucial that your air conditioning is working correctly during the winter months, because that’s pulling all of the wet air out of your car and keeping your interior dry. It also keeps your windshield defrosted and the car’s inside electronics dry. You don’t want moisture developing all over your vehicle’s computer, or on the inside of your dash, or the inside of your CD player.
A critical function of an air conditioner is to dehumidify the inside of the car. Make sure you’re working with a professional if you need air conditioning repair.
