1. Why do car batteries die during winter?
Coldweatherisoftenfingeredasthe culpritwhencarbatteriesdie,butactuallywarmtemperaturesdo
the most damage to them.Hightemperaturesquickencorrosionof internal platesandvaporize the
electrolytefaster.But acar battery usuallygoesdeadincoldweathermostlybecause damage done
duringthe summerdoesn’tshowupuntil the batteryismore taxed.A cold car batteryhas reduced
crankingpower,andcoldtemperaturesthickenmotoroil,makingithardertoturn the engine over.
Modernelectrical andfuel systemscanmaska weakbatterybystarting an engine withaminimumof
cranking,butwhena weakbatteryisfurthercompromisedbycoldconditions,it’smore likelytofail.
Batteriescandie at any time of yearbut it's more likelyinwinter whencoldtemperatureshitcar
batteriesinthree ways:
poweroutputdrops
abilitytoaccepta charge drops,so the batterydoesn'trecharge as quicklywhenyou're driving
loadincreases – lights,blowers,wipers,heatedseats,rear-screenheateretcare all usedmore
A probable reasonmightbe this. Itboilsdowntosimple chemistry;because the reactionsinabattery
are entirelychemicallybased.Coldertemperaturesnaturallyactas an inhibitor,thusslowingdownthe
internal reactions.The endresultisareductioninelectronsflowinginacircuit.Withnot enough
electronsmovingperunitof time,there isnotenoughcharge topowersomethinglikeacar for long
enough. Carbatteryproblemscanbe avoided too. A visittothe garage isa mandatoryjust before the
onsetof winter.Yourgarage shouldcheckthatclampsand connectionstothe batteryare secure and
free fromcorrosion,but here are a fewsimple batterymaintenance tipsyoucanfollow toreduce the
chance of your car battery boggingdownin the depthsof winter;
Age
If the batteryismore than five yearsoldandthere'sanysignof it strugglingtostart the car, get it
replaced.Some willstruggle onfora bitbutmany won't.It's much betterdone atyour convenience
than as a roadside emergency.
Charge
If you mostlydoshort journeysorleave the carstandingfor daysat a time,investina modernbattery
conditioner/intelligentcharger.These canbe leftconnectedtothe batteryindefinitelyandcanprolong
itslife without chargingitover.
Load
Checkthat everythingelectrical isturnedoff whenyouparkup – evenaninteriorlight,bootlight,or
radioleftonovernightcankill a batterywhenit'scold.
Give the batterya chance
2. Switchoff everythingelectrical anddipthe clutchto reduce the loadon the batterywhenyoustart a
coldcar.
In spite of these measures,if yourcarbatteryfailstostart, youshoulddefinitelychange it. Battery
manufacturerssell theirbatteriesoverthe counter.Itworksevenbetterif youknow yourbatterytype.
Manufacturerslike SFSonicprovide greateconomyonyour car batteryprice.Youcan also shopfor your
car batteriesonline. Inshort,take propercare of yourcar batteriesduringwinterwiththe small battery
maintenance tips.If nothingworksout,change the erringcarbattery.