As temperatures stay low, so does your car battery’s power. Even once winter is well underway, it’s important to make sure your battery is up to the challenge. Otherwise, Jack Frost may quite literally be nipping at your nose while you’re stranded with a car that won’t start.
Starting a vehicle in cold weather puts a lot of strain on your car battery. It may need up to twice the amount of current than normal to start the engine when temperatures take a dive. The AAA Automotive Research Center reports that at 32ºF, a car’s battery loses about 35 percent of its strength. When temperatures plummet to 0ºF, it loses about 60 percent of its power. If your battery is teetering on its last leg, ongoing cold snaps could be the crowning blow that leaves you stuck with a car that won’t start.
Signs Your Battery May Be Failing
Use preventative maintenance to avoid an unwelcome winter surprise. If your battery shows the following signs, it may be time to recycle and replace it before winter weather causes bigger problems:
1. The Battery Is More Than Three Years Old
The average lifespan of an automotive battery is three to five years. With the increase of electronics in vehicles, this number may skew closer to three years.
2. Lights Look Different
If your headlights are dim and appear yellow instead of white, your battery’s power may be declining. You might also notice interior dome lights appear dim or flicker, or warning lights display on the dashboard.
3. The Car Horn Sounds Strange
When your car horn sounds less emphatic than usual, your car battery could be on the fritz.
4. Electronic Accessories Fail
Signs your car battery is failing include your radio, heated seats, or cell phone charger not working as usual.
5. It Doesn’t Look or Smell Right
Sometimes, a simple visual inspection or smell test is all it takes to know your battery is in trouble. If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg smell, or your battery is swollen, cracked, or corroded, it may be time for a replacement.
The AAA Mobile Battery Service Program
Avoid a crowded auto repair shop during the heart of winter. You can use your AAA Membership to get a battery test. A Battery Service Technician may be able to you—at work or at home—to test your battery. If it needs to be replaced, the Technician may be able to install it onsite.
Ready for a battery tech to come visit? Call us at 518-426-1000.
Geographic and weather restrictions may apply.
