Prepping Your Battery for The Cold Weather Ahead

If there’s ever a chance a car battery would suddenly not work, it’s during consistently cold temperatures. Cold weather affects the functioning of the car battery as it is forced to work harder to get your engine going.

Compared to other countries, South Africa’s winters aren’t harsh enough to do serious damage to your vehicle’s battery, but it’s still important to be aware of what to do should the weather take an icy turn. Let’s look at 4 tips to ensure your battery is in tip-top shape during SA winters.

1. Be vigilant about power consumption

Ensure that nothing is draining your car’s battery while the vehicle is not in use. Something as small as a cabin light being left on overnight could significantly drain your battery and spell trouble the next day.

2. Check for Corrosion or Lose Cables

Corrosion around your battery’s terminals can negatively affect the connection between the battery’s cell and its cables. If the terminals are corroded or the cables are loose, your battery won’t be able to successfully transfer its energy to the engine.

3. Check your battery’s performance every 4 years

Avoid surprises by doing a maintenance check of your battery at least every 4 years. Batteries do have a shelf life and pushing it past this limit is not advisable.

4. Park your car in cooler spaces

You can nullify the affects of the cold simply by parking your car in cooler areas. It’s also important to note that if your vehicles is stationary for longer than 3 days, you may want to start your car periodically as this will help keep the battery running smoothly.

At Key Pinetown, we devote ourselves to delivering outstanding customer service across all facets of our operations. Should you have queries about your battery’s health and maintenance, our friendly team is here to assist. Contact us here.