Why does my car battery go flat in the winter?
Perhaps this has happened to you or someone you know, it's getting to the middle of a cold winter, and you head outside to start your car and CLICK! Nothing happens! How is this possible? Well, there are a number of factors at play, it could be that the battery has passed its lifespan date, the battery drained down, perhaps the lights or ignition were left on, or it may just be the very cold weather.
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What this all boils down to, is simple chemistry. The chemical reaction that occurs inside your car's battery is slowed down by cold temperatures so when the temperature plummets to single digits, your car battery can no longer generate the required amperage to crank over the engine especially if the battery is getting close to the end of its lifespan.
Can a car battery die if the engine is on?
Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about this if the battery does not want to maintain a charge, except buying a new battery. There are some preventative measures you can take to ensure that you can prolong your car battery life for as long as possible.
1. Store your vehicle in a garage with a higher internal temp than outside.
2. Don't let your vehicle stand for extended periods of time
3. Start your car every few days if it must stand
4. Do regular battery maintenance if you have a Lead Acid Battery by topping off the battery water.
5. If the car must stand, fit a trickle charger to keep the battery charged up.
Can a battery charger jumpstart a car?
