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Don’t Be Caught Dead in the Cold

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Protect Your Battery and Alternator During the Winter

Some vehicle owners don’t even realize that there is an intricate electrical system within your car.  It consists of a battery, starter, and alternator.

The heart of your vehicle's electrical system is the battery.  

Nothing is worse than getting up on that first cold winter morning, going to your car, turning the ignition, and then, nothing. Your car battery is dead, and you are left in the cold.

Cold Temperatures Affect Your Battery

It is widespread for car battery’s to go out in the first part of winter. Cold temperatures take a toll on batteries, and a new one is a good bet that you might not have to deal with a dead battery. Batteries fail in winter for several reasons.  It takes a lot of amps to start your vehicle and get going down the road. Most of the time, your starter will do this with ease.  But, a battery loses capacity in low temperatures to the point it might be unable to start your car.

Pay Attention to Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)

A (CCA) number should be a good guide for a motorist to pay attention to. It stands for cold crank amps. This number will tell you how many amps the battery can put out in cold weather and freezing temperatures. The higher the number, the more likely your battery can handle cold temperatures in the winter.

Inspect Your Batteries Routinely

Determine how old your battery is. Power will diminish over time, and extreme cold can affect even a new batteries capacity. Make sure your battery is free of corrosion that can cause faulty connections or allow battery acid to escape and corrode other engine parts.

Keep Your Battery & Alternator Protected

A battery blanket can be placed on the battery to keep battery fluid from freezing in low temperatures. The alternator also needs a little care before the temperatures drop.

The alternator, which powers the vehicle’s entire electrical system, provides the current to operate all of your car’s electrical accessories and the engine; it keeps the vehicle’s battery charged.

Give your alternator a helping hand. Resist the urge to use all those winter car accessories.  We are not talking about an electric blanket and coffee pot; we are talking about basics like the radio, heated seats, defrost, and heater.

Get Your Vehicle Prepared for Winter at Alignment Center and Alaskan Car & Truck

Winter weather plays havoc with a lot of things and your vehicle. Here at Alignment Center and Alaskan Car & Truck, we can check your vehicle’s electrical system for problems, make sure the battery is okay, and check the alternator output to make sure it is operating properly.  Don't' be caught with a dead battery this winter. Schedule a preventative maintenance check with us so you don't have to worry about the winter weather.

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