Our phones ring most on frosty winter mornings, and it’s no coincidence. Canberra’s cold snaps are hard on car batteries, and they tend to expose any battery that was already on its way out.
Cold slows the chemistry
A battery makes power through a chemical reaction, and that reaction slows down in the cold. At the same time, cold engine oil is thicker, so the engine needs more effort to turn over. Less power available plus more power needed is why a weak battery gives up on a sub-zero morning.
Summer damage shows up in winter
Heat is what really wears a battery out. Canberra’s hot summers speed up internal wear, but the battery often keeps working until the first hard frost. That’s why it can feel like your battery died overnight.
Short trips make it worse
Starting the engine takes a lot of power, and short drives don’t give the alternator enough time to put it back. In winter we also run heaters, lights and demisters more, so the battery can slowly run down over a few weeks.
How to help your battery through winter
- Switch off lights, heater and demisters before you turn the car off
- Take a longer drive at least once a week
- Park in a garage or carport on the coldest nights if you can
- Keep the terminals clean and tight
- Get the battery tested before winter if it’s over three years old
When to replace before winter
If your battery is three or more years old, or it’s already cranking slowly on cool mornings, autumn is the best time to replace it. You choose the time, instead of the first frost choosing it for you.
Every RBA callout includes a free battery health check, so you’ll know exactly how much life your battery has left.
