How to Prevent a Dead Car Battery This Winter
Winter is just around the corner, which means the cold can take a toll on your car battery. In fact, according to Boyce Auto Repair, cold weather can thicken your engine’s oil, causing it to move much more slowly and ultimately leading to a dead car battery.
Boyce Auto Repair further explained: “This increases the amount of energy your battery needs to get important processes going. If your battery charge level has already been reduced by the cold, your vehicle may not start.” Fortunately, these tips can help you avoid a dead car battery this winter:
If possible, do not take short trips
We understand that you might need to run a quick errand, but short trips may not charge your car battery as it needs to. Starting your vehicle requires a lot of energy, so these shorter commutes can drain your battery.
Instead, Firestone Complete Auto Care recommends that you drive your car regularly, or at least occasionally take it with you on longer trips. Why? As Firestone explains, “With an already slow charge rate due to the cold, it’s important that your alternator has enough time to fully charge your battery while you’re driving. It therefore helps to drive regularly in the winter months and on longer journeys.”
Turn off and unplug any additional accessories
It’s no surprise that your car may have trouble starting when it’s cold outside. Another useful tip to avoid dead car battery is to turn off unnecessary accessories like your car stereo to reduce drain on your battery. You can also unplug all phone chargers.
Park your car in the garage
Well, that’s easy. That is, of course, if you have a garage. Because, as you’ve probably guessed, park your vehicle Inside Your garage can protect the battery from the cold. As a result, the battery does not get as cold and loses less capacity.
What if you can’t park your car in the garage? “Finally, try parking in a covered garage or downwind so the battery isn’t exposed to the elements,” suggests Boyce Auto Repair.
Make sure the battery posts are clean
Battery corrosion can have a serious impact on overall performance. In fact, corrosion can cause electrical resistance between the terminals and lead to a dead car battery. You don’t want to make your battery work harder than it has to during the winter. This can cause the battery to not work at all.
Conduct regular battery tests
A car battery can last between 2 and 5 years. Of course, the time may vary depending on the climate and driving frequency. With winter just approaching, you can test your battery to see if it’s strong enough to survive the winter. If they don’t, you may need to replace them, especially if you’re hoping to avoid a dead car battery this winter.
Pro Tip: You can always get a charge test done at a local Firestone Complete Auto Care if you can’t do it yourself.
Maybe it’s time to get a better battery
If you know you’re going to have a harsh winter, it might be best to invest in a better car battery. You want one that can keep up with the changing seasons and your busy lifestyle.
For example, batteries with high cold cranking amperage (CCA) will help provide more power to your car in extreme cold. They can also last up to twice as long as conventional batteries.
Prevent your car battery from dying this winter
The tips above can help you avoid a dead battery, but the most important thing you can do is take your vehicle for regular maintenance. Certified technicians can check your battery and notify you of any problems. They can also test the battery and give you an estimated lifespan.
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