How To Ensure Your Car Battery Doesn't Fail During Winters
The official website of US-based Firestone Complete Auto Care mentions “The winter season is the most likely time for a car battery to die.” However, it is not because of the cold season.
Car batteries are affected the most during summers. After getting impacted a lot during the hot weather, the batteries handle another extreme weather - the winters. So, chances of damage always remain there.
Firestone Complete Auto Car has pointed out two ways to ensure your car battery does not fail during winter season.
1. Get Car Battery Tested When Temperature Starts To Drop
Car battery that are four years old or older are at a high risk of failing in colder temperatures. So, it is always better to go for a battery test to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.
2. Keep Jumper Cables Handy
Jumper cables are basically electric cables meant to connect two road vehicles. However, a car with a dead battery can be made to start by supplying it with power from an external source, with the help of jumper cables.
Some other ways to keep in mind, apart from the above two, are:
3. Proper Maintenance
Make sure the car battery is free from any sort of corrosion as any anomaly can block current flow, leading to depletion of the battery. So, keep the terminals clean, and always ensure all the cable connections are tight. You can also use a battery blanket which will keep the fluid from freezing.
4. When Not In Use, Disconnect The Battery
When the car is lying idle, in your parking space, remove the battery. This is because “certain devices, such as clocks and alarm systems, continue to drain battery power when the vehicle is off.” When removed, store the battery in a cool and dry space.
5. Go For A Car Battery Maintainer
Forget the season, your certain behaviours can further add to battery depletion. For instance, excessive use of car applications like music or keeping the lights on. It is always better to install a battery maintainer to prevent the battery from dying.
"Plug in the charger when the car is parked. The battery maintainer will not only keep the battery charged, but it’ll also keep your battery warm so it can accept the charge in cold weather quickly."
