Three Signs Your Battery Won’t Survive The Winter

Man connecting the car battery to the vehicle with a wrench closeup

The winter is one of the harshest seasons on your vehicle, and if you don’t take extra precautions, you could find yourself stuck on the side of the road or even forced to pay thousands in avoidable costs. One of the parts of your vehicle that is most affected by the cold weather is your battery. In the cold, your battery will slowly lose charge, and if you don’t drive your vehicle regularly, your battery could be the first thing to go. Luckily, there are quite a few signs that your battery might be starting to struggle that you can easily notice as you drive. If you would like to find out more about how your vehicle is running before you notice any serious issues, stop into one of your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers today. Our team of expert and certified service technicians will help you get all your vehicle maintenance needs taken care of in one quick trip. Here are a few signs that your battery could use some help.

Dim Headlights

Probably the most visibly noticeable sign that your battery is starting to struggle is if you notice any dimming in your headlights or interior lights in your vehicle. Although there could be a few other issues that could affect your lights if you notice a universal dimming that is almost certainly your battery. As your battery ages, it will begin losing its charge slowly but surely. This slow degradation will only be made worse by the weather, as cold temperatures can decrease your battery’s capacity by over 50%. Any slight reduction in the strength of your headlights is nothing to be worried about, but if you notice any serious difficulties with your overall visibility, you need to get your battery checked or changed as soon as possible.

Clicking Sound When You Start Your Car

Whenever you start your car or truck, a series of precisely timed interactions occur inside your vehicle. When you turn your key in the ignition, your battery sends an electrical current to your starter solenoid, which in turn engages your engine. If your battery is struggling, this process will not be as smooth as it should be and can cause your vehicle to put off loud clicking noises when you try to start your vehicle. If your vehicle is having a hard time starting in the cold weather, you should take your vehicle to one of our locations as soon as you can to ensure that you don’t get stranded.

Backfiring

Backfires are some of the most noticeable issues with any car, as they can oftentimes be extremely loud and jarring. A failing car battery can cause intermittent sparks, which will allow fuel to accumulate in the cylinders. When a spark does eventually reach the cylinder, the fuel is ignited suddenly, causing your vehicle to backfire. Backfiring can be a sign of a number of different issues, so make sure that your battery is the culprit before you replace it.

If you would like to learn more about your vehicle’s battery or want to learn more about how you can protect your vehicle, stop into one of your local Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers today.