Amongst the thousands of components that made up a car, we often focus on components that face a higher possibility of wear and tear. However, little did we know that the life spans of the following components are not as long as we thought.
1. Dashboards
Approximate lifespan: 6 years
Positioned directly under the windscreen, the dashboard is usually exposed to the sunlight. Especially with Singapore’s all-year-round hot and scorching weather, the UV rays of the sunlight causes premature degradation of the dashboard. This usually causes a sticky texture due to melting or a rough texture due to crack. As your dashboard reaches this stage, the only way to salvage the situation is to replace it, giving you a pleasant excuse to refresh the interior look of your car.
2. Seats
Approximate lifespan: 8 years
Car seats are the component where we come in contact with the most number of times, which wear and tear is no longer surprising, especially when we commute by car on a daily basis.
Vinyl, a commonly used material for car seats’, tends to crack and tear when exposed to extreme sunlight or temperature. Similarly, seats made up of real leather could suffer from damages if it was not taken care of properly. Advisably, fabric is the most lasting material for car seats.
3. Seatbelts
Approximate lifespan: 12 years
Seatbelts are an important component that should not be disregarded, especially when it contributes to your safety while commuting on the road. As time passes, you realized that your seat belt gets stuck occasionally and may not be able to pull it back after lengthening it. This is caused by the weakening of the retractor spring after frequent usage.
Should your seatbelts experience wear and tear, it is advisable to get it replaced as the chance of them breaking during an accident is higher, hence contributing to your safety risk.
4. Window Tint
Approximate lifespan:
Dyed window films – 1 year
Hybrid window films – 8 years
Ceramic window films – 10 years and above
A solution for the glaring sunlight and scorching heat, most car owners will get their windows tinted. Usually, it is expected of windows tint to last longer as compared to other moving components. However, you may realize a darker shade of tint in the area covered by the rubber seals as you wind down your car window. This is due to the constant exposure to the UV rays that cause the tint to fade away and hence losing the supposed effect of blocking out the glaring sunlight. In this case, high-quality ceramic films are recommended as they are less likely to fade over time while it effectively blocks out the UV rays.
Reference: sgCarMart.com. (2018). Here are the things in your car that you never thought would spoil. [online] Available at: https://www.sgcarmart.com/news/writeup.php?AID=377 [Accessed 12 Jul. 2019].
