It’s Car Care Month: Is Your Battery Ready for Colder Weather?
Before you don your favorite wool sweater and rejoice in the crisp fall air, take a few car care steps to ensure you’ll be enjoying the fall foliage and pumpkin patches – not the inside of an auto repair shop.
As you leave summer behind, it’s possible your car battery took a beating from the harsh heat. High temperatures can drain your battery of essential fluids, making it weaker and more likely to fail. It can also speed up damaging corrosion. With winter around the corner, your battery can face similar threats that could result in a failed start. If it’s already on its last leg, this could be the breaking point for your faltering battery. Caring for Your Car Battery in Cold Weather Just because winter is coming, it doesn’t mean your battery is doomed. Take these steps to keep your car on the go:
- Protect your car from the elements. Just like you bundle up to avoid frostbite, it’s important to protect your battery from the cold. If possible, park your car in the garage at night. Stuck outside? Park the front of the car in the opposite direction from the wind. Batteries on the fringe of failure are more susceptible to freezing. Freezing temperatures will cause the battery to discharge, leading to a dead battery. If the battery acid freezes, the case can also be damaged.
- Take a moment before you power the accessories. On cold winter mornings, your first instinct may be to turn on the heat, power the lights, and tune-in to your favorite podcast. Resist the urge and give it 30 seconds after you start the engine. This brief warm-up allows the alternator to charge your battery before you put it to work.
- Keep it clean. Over time, car batteries will develop a white, blue, or green powdery build up on the metal terminals. This corrosion interferes with your battery’s ability to do its job. To help your battery last longer, cleaning the terminals should be part of your routine maintenance. First, make sure your car is cool. Wear safety goggles, work gloves, and a protective apron. Then, scrub the terminals using a toothbrush dipped in a baking soda and water mixture to loosen the corrosion. Spray the terminals with cold water to rinse, and dry with a clean cloth.