How To Avoid Battery Problems This Winter

A strong, healthy battery that can take and hold a charge reliably is essential for hassle-free vehicle operation.

Figuring out whether or not your battery is truly bad is the first step to diagnosing battery issues. A battery that struggles to start your vehicle may need a boost or a charge to get back to full functionality.

Your battery may be losing–or has fully lost–its ability to hold a charge from the alternator when the engine’s running. It’s also possible your alternator is failing, and the battery is fine. Whatever the cause of your vehicle’s sluggish starts, it’s worth having a technician take a look.

Cold winter climates during February with lower air temperatures make it harder for healthy vehicle batteries to do their job. Cold temperatures create thicker engine oil and reduce cold cranking amps, forcing your battery to work harder when starting your vehicle.

What are cold cranking amps? They measure how well a battery can start an engine in cold weather. The combination of severe cold and reduced cranking amps lead to battery failure.

Consider: Most car batteries work by chemical reaction. Sulfuric acid inside the cells of the battery reacts with an element (usually lead) to create a flow of electricity. When you turn the key or push the start button, the flow of power migrates from the battery terminals to your vehicle’s starter motor to turn over your engine.

Car battery health is measured in volts. A healthy 12-volt car battery will actually read 12.6 volts or higher when tested. At 12.4 volts, you’ve lost about 25 percent of the charge. At 12 volts or lower your battery is seriously depleted, and may be losing its ability to hold a charge.

Driving habits can also have a serious impact on vehicle battery life. Your battery drains itself when it starts your car, then is gradually recharged by the running engine as you drive.

If you take many short trips, particularly in winter, your battery may not have a chance to charge fully before you turn off the engine. This could cause it to slowly lose voltage, and eventually fail to start your vehicle.

Here’s the bottom line when it comes to managing battery health during cold February drives:

• If you must travel short distances repeatedly, try to mix in some longer drives (at least 30 minutes) regularly.
• If your vehicle isn’t starting easily, take it to your service advisor and have the battery tested. A healthy, fully charged battery will have at least 12.6 volts.
• If you’re planning to do lots of driving in freezing conditions, consider having a block heater installed to warm your engine a couple hours before starting the vehicle. This makes things easier on your battery.
• If your battery seems to be losing its ability to hold a charge, be sure to have your technician check the alternator as well as the battery itself.
• If your technician determines that a new battery is needed, be sure to pick one of the right size and capacity for your vehicle. Both your technician and your vehicle owner’s manual can help with this.