Hi ladies! A new season has begun and along with cooler temperatures, fall and winter can bring unexpected issues and problems for your mobile palace. Thinking back on past winters made me realize how many of my friends and family members always seemed to have battery problems in the winter, more so than any other season. I wanted to find out if there was any reason behind the occurrences or if was just coincidental, so I started asking around to find some answers. Luckily, working at AAA has afforded me all sorts of resources to educate myself on batteries, their lifespan and general upkeep, so finding answers wasn’t too hard. Now, I know it seems like batteries are a pretty easy topic, but they are actually much more important and intricate than you may think!

So what exactly is a battery and what does it do for your vehicle? Simply put, a battery is a device that stores energy for your mobile palace to use. Pretty basic, huh? Well, you may not know that an automotive battery has three main functions: to supply power to the starter motor and ignition system to start the engine, to supply the extra power necessary when the vehicle’s electrical load exceeds the supply from the charging system, and to act as a voltage stabilizer in the electrical system. In North America, the average life of a good quality car battery is three to five years.

So that’s what a battery does, but how is a battery effected by different climates? In cold climates, normally a battery “ages” as the active positive plate material sheds (or flakes off) due to the expansion and contraction that occurs during the discharge and recharge cycles. Brown sediment, called sludge or “mud,” builds up in the bottom of the case and can short the cell out. I know…eww.

Now in hot climates, additional causes of failure are positive grid growth, positive grid metal corrosion in the electrolyte, negative grid shrinkage, buckling of plates, or loss of water.  Deep discharges, heat, vibration, over charging, under charging or non-use accelerate this “aging” process. 

The change in temperature from warm to cold during the fall and early winter months can lead to more battery failures. The reason for this is that the battery, which is like a live cell, can have a hard time adjusting from the warmer days to the cold nights we experience during the fall. Also, the amount of liquids and the flow of those liquids during winter months change and expand causing potential problems with your vehicle’s battery.

It is important to get your battery checked during your routine maintenance. Like all preventative maintenance, getting your battery checked could help you avoid getting stranded somewhere. AAA Car Care Center offers free battery checks and can install batteries on the spot if necessary.

At AAA, many of our members require roadside assistance for battery problems. As a result, we offer convenient mobile service that gives the option to a member to have his or her vehicle’s battery and electrical system checked along with battery installation if needed. That’s right; we come to you! And as a bonus to the members, battery testing and installation are included in the price of the battery.

The more we stay informed on the performance and needed maintenance of our mobile palaces, the longer they will last. And the longer they last, the more likely you are to save big bucks, both at the pump and in not having to take on new car payments. And really, who doesn’t love to save money?

Oh and here are a few common myths about batteries that you might find interesting!

• Storing a battery on a concrete floor will discharge it.
• Driving a car will fully recharge a battery. 
• A battery will not lose its charge sitting in storage. 
• “Maintenance-free” batteries never require maintenance. 
• Car batteries last longer in hot climates than in cold ones.
• A larger capacity battery will damage my car.

If you have any tip and tricks, or there is something you want to know about, email me at girlsgarage@mailaaa.com 

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