​​How Cold Temperatures Affect Your Vehicle’s Battery​

The daily temperatures are dropping. Chilling temperatures bring challenges to how your vehicle operates. You want it to start every time, keep you warm, and get you safely where you need to go. The most important part inside your vehicle is the battery. It provides electrical energy to ensure that your ignition turns over, your infotainment system keeps you entertained, the lights shine your way home, and the windows and other components work.  

Your battery will be exposed to colder temperatures as winter advances in Indiana. Most likely, they are housed without any insulation or protection. The cables are also exposed within the engine bay. A draft of colder air entering the engine bay can cause issues for the battery in sending energy to all of the electrical components.  

According to the American Automobile Association, you need to look out for a slow crank of your starter, dimmed lights from normal brightness, the age of your battery, whether you need a jump to get the battery going, and a leaking or swollen battery. Your vehicle is equipped with either a battery light or a gauge. When that goes into the red, that is a final warning sign of trouble. There are some things you can do to keep your battery going on cold days. Paying attention to the battery and your vehicle will help you avoid a dead battery and serve as early prevention of replacing it altogether.  

How do you prevent a dead battery on a cold day? It starts with the annual testing of your battery using a voltmeter or similar device. A test can check the battery’s health, as well as check for weakness.  

One thing you can do year-round is to clean the battery terminals. Corroded terminals can cause a loss of connection between the battery and the electrical system. To keep everything circulating, take a drive for 30 minutes every week. Even if you work from home, this helps to keep your entire vehicle healthy. Your vehicle should be parked in a garage to maintain warmth and protection from the elements. You should also make sure to turn off the infotainment system, lights, wipers, and so forth, before you turn off the ignition to your vehicle.  

A great tip for you is to make sure you have jumper cables or a charging pack in your vehicle. Getting a jump with cables would require another vehicle. Once you get the battery going and the vehicle started, drive for about 30 minutes to let the electrical system circulate and get all systems working properly.  

If you need further assistance with your battery, the Alderman Automotive service department is here to help you when you need it. Contact us to set up an appointment to check your battery’s health, as well as the rest of your vehicle before the temperatures drop even further.