Summer temps have heated up and that means more damage to your car battery than normal. It’s true – cold weather can kill car batteries, but the real damage can occur during extreme heat as we are currently experiencing now. Living in Arizona, you’re probably used to dealing with the effect of high temps on your vehicle, but do you know why the heat impacts your battery? Knowing what happens and what to do could extend the life of your battery, saving you time, money and … maybe finding yourself stuck on the side of the road in the heat.

What happens to your battery in the heat?

Basically, the main things you need to know are, excessive heat can actually accelerate the battery’s chemical operation, causing battery fluid to evaporate. Second, loss of battery fluid can permanently damage the internal structure of the battery, as well as irreversible corrosion damage.

What does a failing battery look like?

If a trusted repair shop like Good Works Auto Repair has not checked the power or condition of your current car battery this summer, you may notice that your battery is failing by watching for:

• Your engine cranks slower than it normally does when you start your car
• You have a check engine light or battery light on
• You look at your battery and see that the fluid level is low
• The battery case itself looks swollen or bigger than normal
• The battery posts, or where the cables connect, are all corroded
• You notice that your headlights or even your interior lights seem dim
• Your battery is more than three years old and could be in danger of failing

What can you do to extend the life of your vehicle?

• Park your car in the shade or in a garage when possible
• Avoid charging your electronics through your car
• Don’t use electronic devices when the car is off
• Keep the battery and battery cables clean

Replace the car battery with one that is equal or better than the one originally specified

Have your auto mechanic or auto repair shop check the power and condition of your battery before it is too late. Preventative maintenance is a good start to avoiding auto repair issues down the road!