Here’s why you need a jump start this winter.
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- Car batteries use chemical reactions to start your vehicle.
- The age of your battery greatly affects its voltage and ability to start your vehicle in cold temperatures.
Winter is almost here, and the temperature is dropping. What does that mean for your car battery?
Even modern cars are more prone to weather-related breakdowns during the cold season. Waking up to a dead car battery in late fall and winter is a common experience for many American drivers.
So what causes a car battery to die in cold weather, and is there a way for drivers to avoid this experience altogether?
Why do car batteries die in the cold?
The battery in a vehicle with a gas-powered internal combustion engine causes the chemical reaction that starts the vehicle. These batteries use lead acid battery technology to generate electricity.
According to AAA.com, “cold weather may slow this response.” When this chemical reaction slows down, the battery can’t generate enough electricity to power the starting process that starts your vehicle’s engine.
In addition to slowing chemical reactions, colder temperatures also put more stress on the battery, requiring more power for the startup process. The age of your car battery is an important factor in whether it can withstand cold temperatures.
What to do if your car battery dies in cold weather
If you try to start your engine and it won’t start, your car’s battery may not be able to generate enough power to begin the starting process. The only way to get it up and running is to jumpstart the battery.
Jump starting a car battery transfers electrical current from one battery to another, giving it that energy to aid in the starting process. Once your car’s battery is working again, your car’s alternator will continue to run your car unless there are other mechanical issues.
How to connect jumper cables to car battery
- Align the vehicle that can run with the vehicle that has a dead battery and stop the engine.
- Connect the red jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.
- Connect the red jumper cable on the other end to the positive (+) terminal of a functioning car battery.
- Connect the black jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal of a functioning car battery.
- Connect the last black jumper cable to an unpainted metal part of the vehicle’s engine with a dead battery.
Once both cables are properly connected, energy transfer will begin as soon as you start the engine of your vehicle with a working battery.
Try starting the engine of a stopped vehicle. If the vehicle does not start, you may need to connect the last black jumper cable to another unpainted metal part on the running vehicle’s engine block, as described in the Kelley Blue Book.
Once your non-working car battery has been successfully restored, remove the cables in the reverse order of their original arrangement and drive the vehicle to allow the alternator to help restore the battery to optimal power.
How long does a car battery last?
According to AAA.com, car batteries typically have a lifespan of “3 to 5 years.” Heat accelerates battery deterioration, so drivers living in warmer southern regions may need to replace their car batteries every three years.
Car battery prices vary depending on brand and other factors, but most range between $75 and $200. Additionally, some auto parts retailers, such as AutoZone, offer free battery installation services with the purchase of a new battery.
If your car battery frequently dies in cold temperatures, but other mechanical components are working fine, it may be time to invest in a new battery. Automotive retailers and mechanics offer free battery testing services to check voltage.
