Temperatures are expected to reach well below zero and for your car that could mean bad news for your car battery.
Triple A reports the extreme cold will cause many car batteries to fail, especially if they are not driven over the weekend. To ensure your battery remains charged, the key is to drive. AAA recommends those who can, to also park their vehicle inside a garage, where it’s warmer.
A car battery in the bitter cold will lose a third of its power due to the oil in your vehicle thickening and making it harder to turn the engine over.
There are warning signs motorists can keep an eye and ear out for that will show a car’s battery is nearing the end of its life. Those include:
- Vehicle cranks slowly when trying to start
- Grinding, clicking or buzzing when the ignition is turned on
- Vehicle has stalled
- Headlights dim when idling, but brighten when the driver revs the engine
- Battery is more than three years old
It’s recommended you have your vehicle battery checked at every oil change to ensure the cables are properly connected and the hold-down hardware is secure.
