How to avoid a flat car battery ~ station of gear

Winter weather can kill battery life, but we’ve teamed up with an RAC patrol to bring you some top tips to keep starting in the cold

2015-11-27 10:40

All parts of your car need looking after as the winter weather gets colder and colder, but none more so than your battery. Cold weather changes the chemical process within the battery, meaning it doesn’t work as efficiently as it should. This can have a devastating effect on your morning if a flat battery means your car simply won’t start.

Flat batteries are the number one cause of RAC callouts during the winter months, so we teamed up with one of the breakdown operator’s patrolmen, Charlie Harding, to put together some top tips for keeping mobile this winter...

• Winter driving tips

1. Keep driving

It might sound basic, but your battery only charges while the engine’s being used. Short journeys, or not using the car at all, will gradually flatten the battery. If you don’t need to do lots of journeys, consider investing in an external battery charger.

2. Switch off

All sorts of equipment can put unnecessary load on a battery. Heaters, wipers and lights are the obvious things, but also remember to unplug items from the 12V socket and USB ports as well.

3. Ease the strain

Depressing the clutch when starting the engine can help take the strain off your car. It reduces the effort needed to start, and therefore takes away some of the load on the battery.

4. Check your battery

You can do a visual check every time you lift the bonnet to look for corrosion, but it’s worth getting a professional inspection, too. If you’ve bought a used car, check the manual and make sure the previous owner had the correct battery installed.

• How to jump-start your car

5. Check other battery-related systems

If you’re concerned, get a professional to check over the alternator, starting system and charging systems for the car and battery. If any of these are malfunctioning, it could result in the battery being overcharged, undercharged or in some cases not charged at all – all of which will affect battery life.

6. Service your car

A poorly maintained vehicle can put extra strain on the battery – from underinflated tyres to an overworked engine. And if you have a garage, keep your car in it; warmer temperatures are better for batteries.

7. Know the warning signs

Noises like clicks as you turn the ignition, dashboard lights going dim or the engine turning over very slowly are all signs that a battery is flatter than it should be.

8. Don’t persevere

A battery won’t magically regain charge; if it fails to start the engine, stop trying, as you’ll only flatten it further for no reason.

9. Safety first

If you’ve conked out in a dangerous place – next to a junction, for example – try to get the car somewhere safer before continuing. See if some passers-by will help push.

10. Be ready to jump start

In an emergency, you may need to jump start the car. Keep a set of jump leads in the boot and learn the procedure.

• Our complete guide to winter tyres

Winter Special 2015

Winter tyres test
Winter driving tips
Fact or fiction? 10 winter driving myths busted
Best SUVs and 4x4s to buy now
Best small 4x4s to buy now
Top 10 phone apps to keep your winter car woes at bay
The world’s coldest roads
How to jump-start your car

Joe Finnerty

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