Your car's battery is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. It keeps your electrical accessories running, including the ignition system and other car parts. But when winter hits and cold weather settles in, you may notice that your car is having trouble starting up in the morning or running as it used to. This can be frustrating, but there are several reasons why this might be happening. Here are the reasons your car batteries die in the winter.
Cold Weather Makes Batteries Die Faster
Cold temperatures make batteries less efficient at holding onto power than hot temperatures. This is because cold temperatures let the chemical reactions inside a battery go less quickly — and slow chemical reactions mean less power from your battery until everything warms up again. It makes your battery work harder to start your car.
Battery Drain Due to Lights and Other Accessories
The design of your car's battery is to provide power for everything from lights to stereos to air conditioning systems — but these things can take a toll on your battery's ability to keep up with demand during cold weather months.
Cold Weather Causes Battery Acid to Gel
When it's cold outside, water can't hold its liquid form and turns into ice on all exposed surfaces. This is why your car window cracks or even breaks when it's cold outside. The same thing happens with the electrolyte inside your battery and causes it to gel up, making it harder for the battery to charge properly. To avoid this problem ensure you have enough antifreeze in your radiator.
It's important to take care of your car battery so it can last for many years. If you need battery repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle into Thom's Four Wheel Drive and Auto Service today!