TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Be aware: chilly temperatures can do a number on your car battery.
According to AAA, the number of car failures increases during and after a cold snap. Starting a vehicle in cold weather puts strain on the battery, eventually causing damage.
Bob Rice with Interstate Batteries of the Big Bend says, cold temperatures strain car batteries, but overall heat causes more damage.
A cold snap makes your engine work harder, and if your battery is weak, it won't last long in those conditions. Rice adds if you're car is cranking slowly at the end of summer, that's a sign that your battery needs to be replaced ahead of the winter months.
"When the first cold snap comes through, then you find out your battery developed a problem back during the summer," Rice explained. "Folks think it was the cold weather that killed it, but really the cold weather just kept the battery from performing as well."
Rice says if your car battery is more than 3 years old, you hear clicking sounds when you turn on the ignition, or your vehicle cranks slowly when attempting to start, it may be time for maintenance.
