Your battery failing and creating a “no start” situation is the most common reason for calling emergency road service during the colder or winter months. A so-called “healthy” battery operating in 80-degree temperatures will have only about half the output when the temperature goes to zero. When your vehicle’s battery is “dead” or “weak”, that means you’re not driving anywhere.
Vehicles are much more advanced than they used to be, and a lot of those advancements are in computer controls and electrical components, so make sure someone qualified is the one that is diagnosing and/or replacing the battery. Newer vehicles often require diagnosis to even find out if it is a battery problem. Sometimes other items like loose or corroded wires or connections, a loose alternator belt, or a faulty alternator or bad starter will show up like the symptoms of a weak or dead battery, when that isn’t the case.
A technician will be able to tell you if your battery is dead, or if the problem is an extra drain on the electrical system being caused by a bad component. This can save you from replacing what may be a good battery.
If you do need to replace the battery, here are some tips:
Batteries are rated by a measure called “cold amps” or a CCA rating; this number indicates the battery’s actual stored power. It takes about 400 amps to start the average car and 15 amps to run your headlights. The higher the CCA rating is, the more “amps” the battery produces. The size and number of “plates” inside the battery is the power part of the battery, and that determines how many amps it can provide. By having more plates inside, it increases the normal life expectancy of the battery. This is the difference a 3-year and a 5-year warranty battery.
In colder climates, it benefits you to have a higher CCA rating, because starting your vehicle in cold weather takes up to twice as much current to turn over your “cold” engine.
Another thing to look for is reserve capacity rating (RC), which tells how long you can run the accessories on the vehicle, but still have enough power left over to start your engine. If you operate a vehicle in mild climates, it is usually better to have a higher RC than a higher CCA.
When you install, or have your new battery installed, it’s very important to make sure the battery cables are clean, and it’s best to protect them with anti-corrosive spray.
If you aren’t having battery problems yet, but your battery is over 5 years old (the average battery last about 4 years), it’s a good idea to get a test for the load capacity on your battery. This “load test” tells you how strong the battery is, and if it will continue to work as needed.
Weak batteries aren’t dependable, especially in Philadelphia’s unpredictable winters. The highest percentage of emergency service calls come in when the first severe cold snap hits. Don’t be inconvenienced by an easily addressed and fixed item, your weak bettery.
