From thunderstorms to extreme heatwaves, the weather during the spring and summer months can often be hard to predict.

While this time of year is great for getting outside and enjoying some fresh air, rising temperatures can have an impact on your car’s main components. Make sure your vehicle can survive the heat by checking over these three key areas: blades, bulbs, and batteries.

Car Batteries

High temperatures are a silent car battery killer as rising heat speeds up chemical reactions within the battery, leading to a faster rate of discharge. When outside temperatures rise above 25°C your battery can begin to warp, increasing the risk of internal corrosion and reducing its service life.

Signs that your battery components might be suffering from corrosion can be anything from dull headlights and flickering dashboard lights to a slow cranking speed– so keep your eye on your car’s electrical systems as the days get warmer.

Even when the temperatures aren’t soaring, your battery will still face extra strain during the spring and summer months because you’re more likely to use air conditioning, internal fans, and plug-in devices like cool boxes and satnavs for holidays and sunny day trips.

Battery protection tips

Stay in the shade when you’re out and about by parking under trees and in covered carparks where possible to keep your vehicle cool.

Keep it clean by regularly checking under the bonnet to ensure that there isn’t any dirt or grime covering your battery, as this can cause unwanted insulation.

Avoid short trips on extra-hot days. Try taking public transport or walking, as short trips that are under 30 minutes may not give your battery enough time to recharge.

Top up your electrolyte fluid if you have an unsealed lead-acid battery using a high-quality battery fluid such as the Halfords Battery Top-Up Water 1L.

Get your battery checked by a professional by booking a Free Battery Health Check at your local Halfords store or garage.

Wiper Blades

When your wiper blades have been sitting unused for weeks during the summer, the constant cycle of heating and cooling under the strong UV rays can warp them out of shape, leaving you with streaky, ineffective wipes when you come to use them again.

To keep your blades in tip-top form, try parking in a garage or under a carport when the weather is warmest. If this isn’t an option, then throw on a car cover to protect your blades from direct sunlight.

To keep your blades running smoothly during the summer when the roads are dry and dusty, try investing in a good screen wash such as the Halfords Berry Screenwash 5L to help keep the road ahead clear and your wipers working seamlessly.

Bulbs

Your car headlights are an essential safety feature on your vehicle and should be regularly checked for damage. UV damage to a car’s headlight looks hazy and yellow, which compromises road visibility and weakens structural integrity, therefore posing a risk to the bulbs underneath.

By protecting your headlights, you’re protecting your bulbs, and a good way to do this is by cleaning your headlights with a good cleaning kit. The Turtle Wax Speed Headlight Lens Restorer Kit is a great option, as it’s specifically designed to combat yellowing from sun damage while also providing a ceramic coating to your headlights to protect them from future UV rays. While you’re cleaning, you can also check for signs of damage, such as splits and cracks.

Halfords Motoring Club

By joining the Halfords Motoring Club today, you’ll get access to a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe, and keep you saving.

It’s free to join, and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check, and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service, including our range of windscreen wipers.

Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee of £4.99 (£59.88 total) or £49 annually to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages, and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.