Before winter, it is worth checking the battery in the car

Favorable summer weather conditions make invisible some of the shortcomings of our cars. However, in general, with the onset of winter, all malfunctions begin to appear. Therefore, this period should be devoted to the proper preparation of your car, and one of the elements that should be taken care of is the battery.

Today, most cars are equipped with so-called maintenance-free batteries. However, the name in this case can be misleading, because, contrary to what it seems, it does not mean that we can completely forget about the power source in our car.

To enjoy its long and trouble-free operation, from time to time you should look under the hood or go to a service center and check if everything is in order in our case. The best time for this type of inspection is autumn.

winter glitches

– Defects that we have not paid attention to so far will probably soon make themselves felt in winter. Therefore, before we face sudden temperature changes, it would be good to eliminate all the shortcomings of our cars, explains Grzegorz Krul, Service Manager of the Martom Automotive Center, owned by the Martom Group.

And he adds: “One of the elements that should be especially taken care of is the battery. Therefore, in order to avoid an unpleasant surprise in the form of a parked car one December or January morning, it is worth paying a little attention to it.

In practice, when the mercury column shows, for example, -15 degrees Celsius, battery efficiency can drop even by as much as 70%, which, with previously unnoticed charging problems, can effectively derail our travel plans.

Charge level control

In order to minimize the risk of problems starting your car, it is worth learning some basic information. First of all, a key factor in determining the state of charge of the battery is our driving style.

– The starter needs a certain amount of current to start the car. Later in the journey, this loss must be made up. However, if you move only for short distances, the generator will not have time to “return” the spent energy and there will be an undercharge,” the expert describes.

So, if we drive mainly in the city, covering short distances, after a while we may feel that starting our car takes much longer than before. This is most likely the first sign of a problem.

In such a situation, you should go to the service, connect the battery to a special computer device and check and, if necessary, recharge. Of course, you shouldn't wait until the last moment - towing a car or changing a battery in a bitter cold is an experience that every driver probably would like to avoid.

Longer on the same battery

– Vehicle equipment also has a significant impact on battery life. Remember that each additional electronic element (for example, audio system, heated seats, power windows or mirrors) creates an additional energy requirement, which is of great importance, especially in winter, says Grzegorz Krul.

In addition, the power supply in our car must be kept clean. Therefore, all spills and dirt should be removed regularly. This is especially true for clamps, where after a while a gray or green coating may appear.

Time for replacement

Most batteries sold today come with a 2 or sometimes 3 year warranty. The period of full fitness is usually much longer - up to about 5-6 years. However, after this time, the first problems with charging may appear, which will be unpleasant in winter.

If we decide that it is time to buy a new battery, we should be guided by the recommendations of the manufacturer of our car:

“The capacity or starting power in this case will depend on several factors – including the type of fuel (diesel or gasoline), the size of the car or its factory equipment, so just look at the manual to be sure,” notes Grzegorz Krul.