Why Bother About Sun Damage in Your Car?
Most folks don’t think about the inside of their car getting hammered by the sun until they see their dash cracking or the seats starting to fade out. But after seeing plenty of Mitsis, Toyotas, Volvos, and Kias roll into the Grimmer Motors workshop needing help, trust us—Hamilton sun can wreck your interior quicker than you’d expect. Doesn’t matter if you’re parked up at The Base or down Te Rapa Rd. With the way the weather swings between freezing damp mornings and blazing hot arvos, especially if you’re commuting from Morrinsville or Ngaruawahia, your car cops a hiding year-round.
Grab Yourself a Windshield Sunshade
Easiest fix? Chuck a decent sunshade across the windscreen every time you park up outside. Doesn’t matter if you’re grabbing a flat white in Frankton or stuck at the Chartwell lights for ages, it stops the sun beating straight onto your dash and front seats. Go for the proper reflective sort – the supermarket ones work, but if you want to actually keep things cooler and stop fading, it’s worth spending a bit more. Here’s a good breakdown on why they help in this sunshade guide.
Think About Window Tinting
A tonne of cars, from late model Mazdas to older Subaru Outbacks, come into the workshop with their interiors sunbleached from all-day parking around Rototuna’s shops. UV-blocking window tinting really helps out. It makes a difference in privacy too—useful when your car’s full of tools or groceries in places like Melville. Just make sure to check what tint’s legal before you splash out. Want more info? Dive into Car Window Tinting Hamilton.
Look After Leather & Vinyl Bits
Seen your leather cracking or the vinyl splitting on a Honda CRV or a Volkswagen Passat? Sun’s usually to blame, especially after a rough summer spent driving between Hamilton and Raglan Beach. Easiest fix—pick up a quality conditioner for those surfaces and use it every few months, or after big stints in the heat. One of our techs always recommends going over seats, steering wheels, and gearshifts. Stuff’s not good to sit on when it’s dry and crusty. For more common car mistakes, flick through 7 Common Car Maintenance Mistakes.
Park Smart—Shade Beat Sun Every Time
When you can, leave the car under a carport or a shady spot, whether you’re at Centre Place or outside your mate’s in Cambridge. If you’re out of options and parking in direct sun—try backing the car in so the rear cops most of the heat and your dash doesn’t take the brunt. That little trick saves a lot of newer Suzuki Swifts and Ford Fiestas from split dashboards. Find some more info about how summer heat can trash car interiors here: car heat damage article.
Use a Full Car Cover If You’re Stuck Parked Outside
Some customers from out in Tamahere leave their cars outside all day, every day. Can’t really avoid the sun. A good car cover – one that lets moisture out but isn’t too loose – will save both the paint and the interior. Takes an extra minute in the morning but keeps the inside from getting baked, and the outside from turning chalky.
Don’t Overlook Seat Covers & Sun Shields
If you’re running a Corolla wagon or a Hyundai i30 that sits in the Dinsdale sun all day, seat covers are a good shout. Grab ones that don’t just jazz things up but also block UV. Same goes for snap-on sun shields on the side windows, especially if you’ve got kids or pets onboard. Cuts down on the seats overheating and keeps that sticky vinyl off your skin in summer.
Final Word—Little Steps Save You Money Down the Line
It doesn’t matter if you’re driving an Audi A3 or your trusty old Nissan X-Trail—sun damage sneaks up fast. All this stuff’s dead simple to do, but it makes a world of difference when you’re coming in for your next WOF or car service Hamilton way. If you’re not sure what’s best for your ride, pop in and have a yarn with one of our techs. At Grimmer Motors, we sort all sorts of NZ car problems and keep you comfortable for the long run.
- Know-how & Experience: We’ve seen just about every sort of weather here thrash interiors, so we know what actually works.
- All-in-one Service: From sun-faded dashboards to hybrid repair, we can keep your car sorted, top to bottom.
- Keen on Service: You’ll always get genuine advice, no silly upsells, just good honest work.
If you’re keen to look after your car and keep it tidy, give us a shout or book in below.