Cold Weather is Coming…For Your Car’s Battery

How Does Cold Weather Affect Car Batteries?

The humble car battery might be among the overlooked automotive components – until it’s too late. A weak, dead, or dying car battery can slam the metaphorical brakes on any trip before it literally starts. This is never more true than during the coldest winter months. Automotive batteries rely on a chemical reaction to produce the electricity required to start the vehicle. Our team put together some information on how cold weather affects car batteries. Follow along to take a closer look.

READ MORE: What Does Your Car Need for Winter Maintenance?

What Happens to a Car Battery in the Cold?

Without getting too bogged down in science jargon, the number one thing that happens to car batteries in subfreezing temperatures is that the battery’s capacity is reduced by a significant amount. This means the entire ignition system needs to work harder to start the vehicle – further putting more strain on the electrical capacity.

If the battery is already at the end of its lifecycle, a surprise cold snap could leave you stranded in a tough situation.

How Do You Know If a Car Battery Is Failing?

It is very rare for a car battery to stop working without warning. There are a few telltale signs that a battery is starting to go bad. Recognizing these signals should give you plenty of time to have the problem fixed at the Downtown Tyee Chevrolet Service Department. Some of these signs include:

• Ignition is slow to turn over
• Dim/flickering headlights
• Dim/flickering interior lights
• Dashboard warning lights activate

Additionally, there are a few physical signs that a battery needs to be replaced, like battery fluid leaking, corrosion (blue-green discolouration) of the battery terminals and the walls of the battery becoming bulged. 

Don’t wait until it’s too late to have your battery looked at by the expert team at the Downtown Tyee Chevrolet Service Department. If you’ve been experiencing any of the above problems with your car battery, make an appointment with us today.