Winter Battery Care

07 December 2016

Winter conditions put a great deal of strain on your battery and failing car batteries are the biggest cause of winter breakdowns. Low temperatures can affect a battery’s ability to accept charge and so recharging a battery can take a long time, sometimes longer than the journeys we use them for!

In addition, car batteries have to keep up with much higher levels of demand as drivers require heating to cope with cold temperatures, air conditioning to de-mist windscreens, wipers to remove rain and snow and lights to cope with early setting and later rising sun.

Tips for Prolonging Battery Life

• Park your car in a garage if possible to help prevent your battery from getting too cold overnight
• Do not let your car stand for too long without using it – exercise it by taking it for long drives
• Avoid making only short journeys in your car as these can drain your battery without allowing it adequate time to charge
• Switch off all electrical appliances when you leave the car and try to limit your use of them when driving
• Never allow your battery to run completely flat
• Make sure you have your battery checked by a specialist when it reaches 3 years old – contact your local Setyres branch to make an appointment for a free battery health check

When Do I Need a New Battery?

Car batteries have an average lifespan of 3-4 years, so it is important to have yours checked as soon as it reaches 3 years old to ensure that it won’t let you down on the road. Aside from age, there are a number of signs you can look out for that may indicate that your battery has come to the end of its life.

You may need a new battery if…

• Your ignition takes longer than usual to turn over
• All lights appear dimmer
• Your engine does not turn over
• You hear a rapid clicking noise when you start your ignition
• The battery warning light on your dashboard has switched on
• You notice any signs of leaking around the battery

Starting your Car this Winter

Ease the struggle of starting your car in the morning by making it easier on your car battery. Make sure to switch off electrical items before you switch off your engine otherwise they may waste battery power that is needed to switch on in the morning. If your battery does not start straight away, allow a little time before trying again as it may need to warm up.

If you cannot get your car to start we would recommend calling your breakdown provider or jump starting your car carefully using jump leads. Jump starting is only a temporary solution to a flat battery and if the battery cannot recharge itself afterwards, it is time to have it replaced.