Cold winter mornings can be very frustrating when your vehicle doesn’t start. We have all been there. You hop into your freezing vehicle, turn the key and get nothing but a “Click Click” or a slow dragging crank. Cold weather is extremely hard on the Electrical Starting System. Here is a breakdown on reasons why your car is struggling when it’s cold outside.
It’s a Chemistry Thing:
The Chemistry inside your battery severely slows when the temperatures are low. The strong chemical reaction needed to crank over a cold engine may not be present if the Battery has age on it. Battery strength can drop 50% on cold days.
Cold Engines Have More Resistance:
When the engine and the oil that lubricates your engine is cold, it will take a strong Battery presence to crank your engine over. A cold battery and a cold Engine may cause the cranking to seem slow. Once the engine is warmed up, you may find that the starting is better. This is normal.
Increased Demand Due To Cold Weather:
During winter, we demand allot from our Electrical Systems. From Heated Seats to high powered heating systems and defrosters, the battery is constantly being stressed. Add the fact that repeated short distance driving does not allow the Alternator time to properly charge the battery. You can understand why winter cold can affect your battery.
How Can I Stop My Battery From Dying:
- Have the battery tested. The Tester stresses the Battery and checks how strongly it recovers. The Battery CCA, “Cold Cranking Amps”, is also checked.
- Replace your battery every 3 to 5 years.
- Be sure the Battery Terminals are tight and free of corrosion.
- If only making short trips, try to take a long drive at highway speeds once in a while.
- When purchasing a new battery, make sure to buy a good quality brand with a high CCA rating.
If you are ever concerned about getting your vehicle started on a cold winter morning or being stranded away from home, have your Electrical Starting System Tested by a professional Auto Repair Shop. We can help with this. You can call us to set an appointment or find us on Google and set your own appointment.