Over time, much like anything else, the batteries within our cars lose power and begin to fade, simply due to natural wear, tear and usage. However, occasionally we see batteries that trip and fail much sooner than expected, but why does this happen? Let’s take a look at the possibilities.
The temperature
Throughout the year, the temperatures within the UK can reach as low as -7° or higher than 30°. As they do on us, these changes in temperature have an affect on our vehicles.
Throughout the colder months, it is expected that a battery will limit its power. Once the temperature reaches 0°, around 30% of the battery can fail, no matter its age, so replacing it may not solve your problem completely. However, if the car has been utilising the battery for a while, allowing natural wear and tear to take hold, this 30% loss may be enough to completely prevent the car from starting. In this instance, a new battery may solve the fault.
During summer, the heat can increase within the already warm bonnet and only a 10° rise in temperature will create way for the batteries release rate to increase to around 0.2 volts a month, significantly reducing the length of battery life.
Battery terminals
For your battery to work at its optimum, the terminals mut be clean and dry, as well as tightly secured. If yours have some wiggle room, then they are too loose. This could result in melting around the terminal itself which could lead to corrosion or, at worst, an explosion due to a spark which is let off as a cause of the loose connection. If corrosion occurs within your battery cables or upon the terminals themselves, the battery flow will be working against added friction, causing a drop in its pressure and possibly even a failure of operation.
A cut back on usage
Throughout this past year, it is highly likely that more vehicles than usual have been left and un-utilised for long periods of time. In fact, studies have shown that this has occurred with around 70% of vehicles during the pandemic. As a result of this, there has been a rise in battery failure simply down to the large period of inactivity or the short and considerably un-healthy journeys to and from the local supermarket, reducing the healthy condition of the battery itself.
A battery check is always a job worth doing, and here at Double Dee Autos, we can incorporate this step into your MOT process. To arrange for yours, get in touch with a member of our team by calling 020 8460 3040 or emailing us at ben@ddautos.co.uk where we will be happy to offer our expert assistance to you and your vehicle.