Car batteries: Why they die in hot weather
Dead car batteries are more often linked to winter conditions, when colder temperatures inhibit the chemical reaction necessary to make a battery work. Extreme cold also increases the thickness of the engine oil, meaning your battery has to work harder to crank the engine.
Under such conditions we also tend to use energy consuming features more often, such as the heater, windscreen wipers and lights.
Most drivers know that car batteries don’t like extreme cold weather and have turned the ignition key on a cold winter’s morning only to find the battery has died.
But, did you know that high temperatures can be worse for your car battery and often the battery problems we experience during the winter actually started back in the summer?
Damaged cells means a battery produces less voltage. However, you can sometimes repair damaged cells by applying an equalizing charge to give an extra boost – although this boost over-charges the healthy cells as well and can damage them. With standard acid flood car batteries it is possible to top up the liquid, extending the battery’s life.
Most modern cars are fitted with sealed, zero maintenance batteries which do not require topping up with distilled water.
However, the older type of car battery with screw caps is still used by some today and do need checking and topping up from time to time.
A battery that has been irreparably damaged will continue to give problems and should be changed. It may be that your dead battery will accept a charge, at least enough to get you mobile again, but it will prove unreliable.
Also, it is important to note that you must use the correct type of charger for your battery – using a traditional battery charger designed for wet (non-sealed) batteries may cause irreversible damage to a sealed battery.
Whichever battery you have, make sure you use the right charger. Choose the correct charger for your battery by clicking on the link, or if you would prefer to speak with one of our advisors regarding the appropriate battery or charger for your vehicle, then give us a call on 0800 8620676. We are here to help.
