Which batteries will not survive the coming winter

How to manage the battery and generally operate the car so that it starts without problems all winter and does not have to buy a new starter battery before the end of the frosty season.

The owner of a car battery freshly bought this fall does not need to worry about the survival of this device next winter, of course. The new “battery” is likely to cope with any bullying. But if under the hood of your car there is not a very fresh starter battery, it makes sense to approach its winter operation wisely. Otherwise, he may die before the first spring drops. In order to ease the already difficult everyday life of the battery in winter, you need to give it a bit of your care right now. To begin, clean the case, cover and battery vents of dirt.

It makes sense to wipe the surface of the battery with some household cleaner. By removing dirt, you will reduce the self-discharge currents that can flow through wet dust. In addition, you need to wipe the wire terminals and the battery terminals from oxides and dust with a fine sandpaper. And when reinstalling the battery on the car, do not forget to tighten the contact bolts tightly. These measures will minimize the electrical resistance at the battery terminals, making it easier to start the engine in the future.

When winter comes, battery health will be affected by many factors and it is necessary, if possible, to optimize their impact. In particular, from time to time it is necessary to check the tension of the alternator belt so that the charging efficiency does not decrease. After turning off the engine, do not “drive” the music or leave the lights on.

By avoiding such actions, we save energy in the battery for the next start. After all, its deep discharges, which most often occur after numerous attempts to start the engine in the cold, greatly reduce the battery life. Therefore, when starting a cold engine, you need to turn on the starter for no longer than 5-10 seconds. The interval between turning on the "ignition" is from 30-60 seconds, so that the battery has the opportunity to recover slightly. After five unsuccessful attempts to start, they must be stopped and look for a malfunction that prevents the engine from starting.

If the car is equipped with a burglar alarm, the owner needs to monitor the condition of the battery with redoubled attention. The fact is that in the cold, the battery capacity is noticeably reduced. At the same time, in protracted bad weather, some car owners put their cars on a joke. Meanwhile, the "signal" sucks and sucks electricity from the battery, deprived of regular recharging. In such conditions, it is very easy to detect a completely discharged battery at one fine moment. A few such cases - and it can be sent to the scrap.

Another tip that extends the life of a car battery will not appeal to adherents of "chauffeur mutual assistance." If possible, avoid "lighting up" cars that refuse to start from your car. In such modes, your battery experiences increased stress. And if he is not very young and fresh, helping a neighbor in the yard can turn into a quick trip to the store for a new starter battery for his own car.