What heat and cold really mean for your vehicle

How Temperature Affects a Battery

Nothing ruins a road trip – or even a morning's drive to work - like a dead battery. You know that your car's battery gives it the power it needs to start and keep all of the essential electrical systems running. But did you also know that extreme weather can take a toll on a car battery as well? Well, there are ways you can be prepared for anything the seasons throw at you.

A battery is a power source containing one or more electrochemical cells designed to power electrical devices like a car or truck, and the average car or truck battery lasts three to five years. However, several factors such as battery quality, driving habits and climate may impact its ability to start your car. And all batteries will eventually fail with age – whether they are used or not.

Hot Weather

Summer heat is brutal on a car battery. The warmer the weather, the faster a battery will corrode. Heat will also diminish a battery’s ability to start a vehicle and ultimately shorten its battery life. It typically becomes more apparent in cold weather when an engine struggles to start, and then it's too late.

Cold Weather

A car battery loses about 35 percent of its strength at 32°F. And at 0°F, it loses up to 60 percent of its strength—but your engine requires nearly twice the power to start. That's why car batteries are more likely to fail in the winter.

The Best Time to Test

Extreme weather can harm your car battery, so spring and fall are ideal times to prepare your battery for the potentially intense weather ahead. If there is any sign your car battery is struggling now, you'll likely have a problem during temperature extremes.

A routine battery test done by a trusted mechanic is a great way to know your car battery's status, so you don't experience problems down the road.

Signs a Car Battery is Failing

Did you know there are often telltale signs that your vehicle's battery is about to fail? Here are a few signs to watch out for.

*The battery warning light may also be a mechanical issue and should be checked by a professional repair shop.

Will Driving a Car Charge a Battery?

The alternator charges your car's battery, but some factors may affect the alternator's ability to charge the battery, including:

• The amount of current diverted from the alternator to the battery
• How long the current is available (the drive time)
• The temperature of the battery
• The age of the battery

The following situations may also keep the alternator from adequately recharging your battery.

• Battery drained because an interior light was left on
• Battery drained because a vehicle was not driven for a month or more
• Car only driven at slow speeds or in stop-and-go-traffic

Keeping an Unused Car Battery From Dying

Your car's alternator charges the battery while the vehicle is being driven. But if the car sits unused for longer than two months, it will eventually drain and kill the car battery, especially if it is three years or older.

If your car is sitting still for a long period of time, disengaging the security system, driving the vehicle for at least 30 minutes weekly to fully charge it and even disconnecting the terminal wires are all great ways to preserve battery life.

Overheated Battery

If a car battery gets too hot, it may expand and leak battery acid, which can be dangerous for the car and anyone nearby. The car battery may even explode, sending shards of plastic, lead fragments and caustic battery acid all over the place.

If you smell rotten eggs, notice a car battery swelling or see steam coming out of it, the battery is probably overheated. If so, shut the engine down and wait for the vehicle to cool down before addressing the problem.

Battery Cool Down

If you want to cool down a car battery, park the vehicle in a shaded area or inside a garage. You may even consider opening the hood of the car to help the battery cool down.

Always Know the State of Your Battery

Regardless of climate, a regularly scheduled battery test is the best way to how your battery will behave in the future. Schedule a free battery test at your local Interstate All Battery Center^® today.

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