Is Your Battery Ready for Starting in Cold Weather?

With autumn and winter chill comes the threat of potential car battery problems. Cold car batteries in Everett, WA can prevent a car from starting, which always seems to happen at the least convenient time imaginable! With proper care, however, you can reduce the chances of a dead battery during the winter.

Start your car daily

The best way to keep your battery from dying in cold winter temperatures is to start your car daily, even if you’re not driving anywhere. If your garage is heated, then you don’t need to worry about this, but if you’re like most Americans, you’ll need to make sure you start your car every single day of the winter. However, if your battery is weak, this won’t help—consider testing your battery monthly to ensure it’s holding a charge.

Starting your car gives the battery a fresh charge. You may want to consult your owner’s manual to see if they have provided cold weather starting instructions. After you start the engine, let it run for a few minutes. In milder weather, the battery is able to charge itself, but performance starts dropping significantly as the temperatures reach freezing and below.

If you’re having trouble starting your car, turn off all lights and accessories (including the heater and blower). Turn the key in the ignition and hold it for 10 seconds. If the lights turn on or you hear the engine clicking or turning, your battery still has a charge. If there are no lights or sounds, you’re dealing with a completely dead battery.

If the battery is simply sluggish, give it a break and try again periodically—it could take up to two hours for it to warm up sufficiently.

Unhook the battery

Another way to keep your battery charged is simply to unhook it. Even when idle, cars use electricity. This can power your anti-theft features, clock and other electronic accessories—but it can also drain the battery. If your car is in a secure, but cold location, you may decide it’s desirable to unhook the battery and thus disable anti-theft features. Please note that the battery will have to be manually reconnected each time you wish to drive the car. For some, this proves to be more hassle than it’s worth.

Your car battery has a limited lifespan, but with regular maintenance, you can prolong its life and avoid the inconvenience of finding yourself with a dead battery.

Get help with your cold car batteries in Everett, WA

If you have any questions about replacing batteries or diagnosing dead or dying batteries, we encourage you to contact Auto Truck Service Inc. today at our auto repair shop and we’ll be happy to assist. Don’t let cold car batteries in Everett, WA ruin your day. Since 1978, Auto Truck Service Inc. has offered a variety of auto, diesel, marine and machine shop services, so we’re confident we can help you with any battery challenge you encounter. Call or pay us a visit today!

Categorised in: Vehicle Maintenance