Each season brings unique challenges to drivers. Being well prepared for these challenges will make driving in any weather easier and safer. Any driver that lives in an area with snow and freezing temperatures during the winter months knows how challenging driving can be. The snow and ice make road conditions hazardous and sudden snow storms can reduce visibility to nothing. Most people think to replace their wiper blades, break out the snow tires, and fill up on anti-ice windshield fluid, but not everyone considers their battery during winter months.
When temperatures drop some folks may notice their vehicles are slower to start. There is a very good explanation for this. Extreme temperatures and batteries simply don’t mix. Batteries work best at room temperature. Based on research from the Battery Council International, a fully charged car battery has 100 percent of its power available to start a car when the outside temperature is around 80 degrees F. When the temperature drops to 32 degrees F the same fully charged battery only has about 66 percent of its power to start a car. Once the temperatures dip to 0 degrees F as they often do during winter nights, your fully charged car battery is left with only about 40 percent of its power to start your car. This can lead to a lot of dead batteries in cold temperatures if the battery you are working with doesn’t have a full charge to begin with.
There are several preventative measure that can be taken to avoid the dreaded dead battery on a cold winter morning. Having your cars electrical system checked before the winter months hit is the best step to take. A mechanic can check to make sure the alternator and battery in your vehicle are in proper working condition and alert you to any problems they may find. When the winter months hit we tend to drive less often and for shorter distances, preventing the alternator from fully charging the battery. If you know the temperature is supposed to drop dramatically at night, and parking your vehicle in a garage isn’t an option, you could place your battery inside to protect it from the elements. For vehicles that are parked all winter you may consider a solar battery charger that will trickle charge your vehicle battery all winter to avoid start up problems in the spring.
Even with great planning and seemingly perfect steps taken to avoid a dead battery, there is always that chance it will die at the most inopportune time. No one wants to get to the parking lot after a long day of work just to find a dead battery in freezing temps. A great item to have on hand for just this scenario is a 12 volt jump start system. Portable jump starters can be stored in the trunk and is simple to use. Having one can mean the difference between waiting in a cold car for a jump and heading home in a warm car only a few minutes behind schedule. There are even emergency jump start systems that come with a built in air compressor and power inverter for added convenience. There is no way to know what the winter weather holds for you from day to day, but being prepared for different situations can make the long winter months more bearable on the road.