Dead battery
Dead Battery in Utah Winter Cold
Cold weather makes a battery weaker and the engine harder to turn at the same time. A battery that was marginal in autumn can fail on the first hard cold morning. A jump start is a useful test, but a car that keeps dying needs its battery and charging system looked at.
- All makes and models
- $125 diagnostic, credited if you go ahead with the repair
- Nephi to Ogden, including Eagle Mountain and Heber
Why does cold weather kill car batteries?
A battery makes power through a chemical reaction, and cold slows that reaction down. So a cold battery delivers less power.
At the same time, cold engine oil is thicker, so the engine is harder to turn. The starter asks for more power just when the battery has less to give. A battery that was only just good enough can give up once the weather turns.
How do I know it is the battery?
- Rapid clicking or a slow crank. Signs of a weak battery.
- Dim headlights or dash lights. Especially when you try to start the car.
- The car starts with a jump. That points to a low battery, though not to why it went low.
- Corroded terminals. White or green crust on the posts can block power.
- An older battery. Batteries wear out. Age is one reason a battery fails when the weather turns.
Sometimes it is not the battery. A failing alternator does not recharge it, and a loose cable can look the same. If a new or jumped battery goes flat again, the charging system needs a look.
Is it safe to jump start a dead battery?
Usually, if you follow the instructions in the owner's manual. Do not jump a battery that is cracked, leaking or frozen, and do not lean over it while making the connection. If you are unsure, do not do it.
Having it diagnosed
Call or text and describe the problem. The diagnostic visit is $125 on every job. If you go ahead, the $125 is credited toward the repair. Skipping the repair does not bring the $125 back. Travel is priced at $75 to $100 in addition to the diagnostic, depending on distance and fuel.
Questions
Questions about dead batteries in winter
Why does my car battery die in cold weather?
Cold slows the chemical reaction that makes the power, so the battery delivers less. Cold oil also makes the engine harder to turn, which asks more of the starter. A battery that was already weak often fails first.
Will a jump start fix a dead battery?
A jump start can get the car running, but driving does not fix the cause. If the battery is old, or the alternator has failed, the car can die again, possibly while you are driving. Get the charging system and battery looked at.
Should I keep a car battery charger in winter?
A battery charger or maintainer can help if the car sits unused for long stretches, because a battery slowly loses charge when idle. Use one made for car batteries and follow its instructions. It cannot bring back a battery that is worn out.
Why does my car start fine in the afternoon but not in the morning?
The battery and the engine oil are at their weakest after the car has sat in the cold overnight. By afternoon it is warmer, so the battery delivers more and the engine turns more easily. A car that does this may have a marginal battery.
Battery dead or weak?
Give the year, make and model and what the car does when you turn the key.