Recent Cold Temperatures Bring an Increase in Calls For Dead Batteries

With the recent spat of sub-zero temperatures last weekend, AAA says they saw an increase in calls for motorists with dead batteries. AAA says their call log for Monday, December 23rd, saw an 80% increase in calls than a typical day.

AAA says car batteries usually fail in cold weather, especially if the vehicle hasn’t been driven for an extended period of time. The best way to make sure your car battery stays charged is to drive your car.

“Drivers should keep this in mind and shouldn’t wait until the last minute to make sure their vehicle starts. If possible, park inside a garage where it is warmer.” AAA said in a release.

A battery will lose a third of its power when in freezing temperatures due to the outside air temperature making the oil in the vehicle to thicken. The thickened oil makes it harder for an engine to turnover. Drivers should also be aware of the signs of when a battery is nearing the end of its useful life, which is usually three to five years.

Some of the signs a car battery is coming to the end of its life include your vehicle cranking slowly when trying to start, a grinding, clicking or buzzing when the ignition is turned on, the vehicle stalling, and dim headlights when idling, but brighten when you rev the engine.

For electric vehicles, the news is less than cheery. AAA conducted research back in 2019 on EVs and found that when temperatures go below 20F and the vehicle’s HVAC system is in operation, the driving range, on average, decreases by 41%. The decrease shows every 100 miles of both highway and urban driving would decrease to 59 miles in temperatures below 20F.