How bad is summer heat for your battery?

The impact of heat on your car's battery

In the summertime, your battery has to work harder: heat can wear it out up to three times faster than cold, and considering that the temperature inside a vehicle’s engine compartment can climb to 150°C or even higher on a blazing-hot day, it’s easy to understand why.

Battery inspection, testing and maintenance

It is essential to regularly check the condition of your battery. If the casing of your vehicle battery is swelling, cracking or leaking, you need to have it replaced immediately. If you’re having trouble with engine starts, there could be a simple cause: fouled battery contacts. Check the battery terminals; if they’re grimy, they should be cleaned. Entrust the job to a trained technician. You should also have the battery checked by a pro if it is more than three years old. CAA-Quebec’s Battery Service patrollers, for example, can not only assess the health of your battery, but of the entire charging system (starter, alternator, drain analysis). They’ll also provide you with a detailed report along with the diagnosis of the problem.

A helping hand to maintain charge

Will you be leaving your vehicle parked for several days during your vacation? Consider using a trickle charger to guard against battery depletion. The charger plugs into a standard electrical outlet, and slowly adds charge to the battery to keep it in optimum condition. This could prevent a nasty surprise when you come back to your car!

What to do in case of an alert?

Of course, these are all preventive tips: if ever the charge alert warning lights on your dashboard comes on, get to a mechanic as soon as possible; otherwise you could find yourself with a completely flat battery!