Written by the Motorplex Team
Serving Auburn, Maple Valley and the Seattle-Tacoma Area
If you operate a commercial fleet in Auburn, Seattle, or anywhere in the South Puget Sound, you already know that operating in the winter rain is just something we must deal with. From October through late spring, constant moisture, road spray, and humidity can quietly take a toll on fleet vehicles.
Our Motorplex by FleetEasy in Auburn works daily with local fleets that stay close to home. That could include contractors, municipal vehicles, delivery fleets, service vans, and utility trucks. Over time, we’ve seen how moisture-related wear leads to breakdowns, but many of these breakdowns are preventable.
Here are our tips on how to catch those issues early with preventative fleet maintenance and reduce downtime during Western Washington’s rainy season.
Rain Can Create Slow, Sneaky Damage
Our wet climate creates a unique mechanical environment. Constant exposure to water accelerates corrosion, weakens electrical systems, and shortens the lifespan of brakes, tires, and suspension components. Unlike snow-related failures, rain damage builds slowly and often goes undetected until there is an inconvenient failure.
Local fleets that are especially vulnerable include construction and trades vehicles, plumbing and HVAC service vans, municipal and utility fleets, last-mile delivery vehicles, landscaping fleets, and vocational trucks that make frequent short stops throughout the day.
Because these vehicles are in near-constant use and rarely sit long enough to dry out completely, moisture accumulates. Here are more details on things that can be damaged by constant rain.
Stop Corrosion with Preventative Fleet Maintenance
Unfortunately, rainwater can work its way into frames, brake components, electrical connectors, and undercarriage components. In the Auburn and Seattle areas, road spray mixed with grit and industrial runoff accelerates corrosion even faster.
Unchecked corrosion leads to seized fasteners, weakened suspension parts, failing brake lines, and premature exhaust damage. Once corrosion gets too bad, repairs become more expensive as parts need to be replaced. That means more money spent and more downtime to deal with.
Fleet Maintenance Tip: Motorplex in Auburn recommends routine undercarriage inspections and corrosion monitoring for fleets that operate year-round in wet conditions. Identifying early rust, failing protective coatings, or compromised components can prevent sudden failures while your vehicles are on the job.
Photo: Rusty and corroded rotor and wheel hub need attention.
Watch for Electrical System Failures
Moisture that gets into wiring harnesses, sensors, battery terminals, and control modules can cause intermittent faults that are difficult to diagnose.
It could be moisture, but vehicles that are constantly starting, stopping, and idling are especially susceptible. Corroded grounds, water-damaged connectors, and weakened batteries often show up as no-start conditions, warning lights, or unpredictable performance.
Fleet Maintenance Tip: Invest time and money into preventative electrical system inspections to reduce these failures. Motorplex technicians can inspect your battery, charging system, and all electrical components to ensure they’re working correctly.
Brake and Tire Wear
Frequent braking on wet roads increases pad and rotor wear, while standing water and grit accelerate corrosion in brake components. For local fleets operating in stop-and-go traffic around Seattle, Kent, Auburn, and Tacoma, brakes could wear faster than expected.
Tires also take a beating. Improper tread depth reduces water dispersion, increasing the risk of hydroplaning. Underinflation worsens wear patterns in wet conditions. Rainy-season tire inspections help prevent blowouts, poor traction, and unscheduled service interruptions.
Fleet Maintenance Tip: Motorplex works with Auburn-area fleets to adjust maintenance intervals during the winter. Contact us to set up a customized fleet maintenance plan.
Preventive Maintenance Is the Key to Reducing Downtime
We might sound like a broken record by saying this, but preventative fleet maintenance is KEY to reducing downtime. Shift from reactive repairs to preventative maintenance, and remember that the climate can impact your fleet vehicles just as much as mileage.
Book your fleet inspections and preventative maintenance services at regular intervals. Motorplex’s Auburn facility supports local fleets with customized maintenance programs designed around regional driving conditions, fleet size, and vehicle type.