It’s a cold winter morning, and you head into the driveway to hop in your car and head to work. You turn the key and nothing. The engine doesn’t turn over. What’s going on? Cold weather reduces a car battery’s ability to hold its charge. If it drains past a certain level, it causes a failed start, and frequent deep draining causes damage to the battery. Fortunately, there are tactics you can implement to prevent this and keep your car battery from dying in cold weather.

How Do I Keep My Car Battery from Dying in Cold Weather?

Drive Longer Distances & Avoid Short Rides

Car batteries take longer to charge in cold temperatures. So, giving the alternator more time to fully charge the battery when driving is essential. Drive your car regularly in the winter to keep the battery optimally charged. Avoid taking short trips, as you won’t have sufficient charging time to restore the battery levels.

Start Right

Sometimes, your battery might provide a weak start, and the engine doesn’t manage to turn over. If so, ensure all accessories are switched off when starting the vehicle.

Disable the seat warmers
Leave the AC/heater off until the car is running
Turn off the radio

These accessories place stress on the battery and switching them off when you start allows for optimal power from the battery to get your car started.

Test Your Car Battery at the Start of the Winter

Most car batteries have a service life ranging from two to five years. In colder climates, you can expect service life to be at the lower end of the range. Therefore, it’s critical to get your battery tested by a professional during the fall before colder temperatures arrive.

Testing the battery takes about 15 minutes and can be done at most auto repair shops and parts stores. An auto mechanic will give you a full report on its status and recommendations for replacement if it’s dysfunctional.

Clean the Battery Terminals

The terminals on the battery can become corroded over time, especially in cold and humid climates. The accumulation of corrosion on the terminals creates electrical resistance, interfering with the connection. So, the vehicle battery must work harder, putting stress on the cells and resulting in damage and dysfunction.

Applying baking soda to the area affected by corrosion can neutralize the battery acid. Adding a small amount of water to the baking soda will cause a chemical reaction and remove the corrosion.

Buy a High-Quality Car Battery

Many vehicle owners assume that all car batteries are the same. However, not all car batteries are the same. Units with cold cranking amps (CCA) are best in cold climates.

AGM batteries are a good choice for providing the longest service life and have less chance of premature wear and tear from the cold. They can withstand heavy use and have enough power to allow accessory use in the vehicle without damaging the battery or shortening service life.

Store the Car in a Garage

If you have a garage at home, don’t leave the car in the driveway; put it away when you get home. Reducing the vehicle’s exposure to cold or freezing conditions overnight provides an easy start in the morning. Also, it extends the service life of the battery.

Depending on your location and temperature range, you may want to consider investing in a portable battery charger or battery blanket. A battery blanket acts like a jacket for your battery and can save you from needing a jump start in frigid temperatures.

Dave & Rays Automotive Repair Shop in Omaha, NE

Our team has learned one thing: automotive problems are as varied and unique as the customers who bring them to us. Fortunately, our decades of experience in auto service and repair also mean that our skilled network of professionals is ready to accommodate an impressive scope of automotive issues. Contact us today.