
That means the battery has to work harder. One reason dead batteries are often associated with cold weather is colder temperatures increase the thickness of the engine oil, making the engine harder to turn over. There may not be any warning signs until one morning, when you are already late for an appointment, your car won't start. If if malfunctions, allowing too high a charging rate, your battery suffers a slow death. Your car's voltage regulator can be another source of trouble. Low fluid levels will damage the internal structure of the battery. The battery contains liquid and heat causes it to evaporate.

Five to 7 years is not unusual as long as the battery is operated under normal conditions.Įxtremely hot weather and overcharging are the two main reasons for shortened battery life, according to the Car Council. When you buy one, the label usually tells you how long you can expect it to last. Heat, more than cold, shortens battery life." Doesn't last forever "Many battery problems start long before the temperatures drop.

"Summer heat is the real culprit," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. The drain on the battery's resources most likely occurred during the summer's hot weather.Īccording to the Car Care Council, a group representing automotive repair shops, your battery is more likely to fail in summer than in winter. It's true that battery failures can occur in cold weather but that's not usually what has caused the problem.

You try to start your car one frigid morning and nothing happens. When you think of a dead car battery, you probably think about it being the dead of winter.
