As the Autumn winds roll through and a layer of frost is there to greet each new day, there’s no worse feeling than dragging yourself out of bed, only to get to your vehicle and find out the engine won’t start. More often than not, the culprit is an exhausted battery. As temperature drop, your battery becomes more susceptible to drainage, and requires an increased amount of monitoring.
To aid in this, here are five easy, cost-efficient ways to help elongate your battery’s lifespan, so that you won’t get stuck out in the cold this Fall:
Avoid Short Drives
It may seem counterintuitive, but running your battery for frequent, short periods of time causes it to deplete faster than it would over the course of a long drive. When you drive in quick bursts, your vehicle isn’t running long enough to allow the battery to recharge properly. Starting your car is an arduous ordeal for your battery, and if you’re shutting things down just five to ten minutes later, the battery runs a greater risk of experiencing discharge.
Try to organize your errands into longer trips if you’re able. By keeping your vehicle in motion on the highway, your battery gets more of an opportunity to recharge itself. Even if it means traveling to a grocery store a few extra miles away, the slight increase you’ll pay in gas money is nothing compared to what a new battery would cost you.
Don’t Remain Parked Too Long
Despite all their comforts and innovations, modern vehicles include a plethora of electronics that gradually drain your battery without you being aware of it. Even when your car is turned off, a diminutive but consistent stream of power is still being used on everything from security systems to keyless entry. This subtle but potentially pricey process is called parasitic drain.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re going to be parked for a sustained duration (i.e., at the airport during a holiday vacation), try to disable as many parasitic drain features as possible before leaving your car idle. Even if you’re cooped up inside while you wait out a winter storm, consider braving the cold for 20 minutes a day to start your vehicle. That way, when you’re ready to get back on the road, your ride will be charged and prepared.
Turn Off Electronics Along with Engine
When you shut off your engine off and remain in the car with the heat and radio on, you’re saving minimal gas money at the far more dangerous expense of draining your battery – especially during colder months. Whenever you turn off your car, make sure you’re turning off your heated seats, infotainment screen, headlights, and all other electronics. And if you are in a position where you need to wait in your car for an elongated period of time, simply keep the engine running; that way, the battery has a better chance of running through its normal recharging procedure.
Monitor and Maintain Your Battery More Frequently
If the state of your battery continues to be a source of anxiety, consider investing in a car battery tester. By regularly monitoring the voltage of your battery, you’ll know if there are any imminent signs of depletion, and you can address them accordingly.
After each test, make sure your battery is tightly fastened, as vibration (especially in bumpy, rural areas) could potentially lead to internal damage. Likewise, wash the battery terminals with cold water and a drying cloth at the first signs of corrosion.
Ask for a Helping Hand
If your battery remains uncooperative, a stranger’s jumper cables may be all that’s left to save you from being left stranded in the middle of the road. If you adhere to all the aforementioned tips, you greatly reduce the chance of this happening.
Still, some troublesome batteries will pay no disregard to your hard work and deplete regardless. When this happens, we’re here for you at Sky Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for all your battery service needs. If your engine displays so much as the slightest hesitation while attempting to start this Fall, do not delay – make your way over to us for a diagnosis. From new and used vehicles to service and parts, Sky CDJR has everything you need to stay on the road.
