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 Car Problems: Car Won't Start Cold
Posted by carsandtrucks on Friday, January 25 @ 05:05:21 PST
It is January and cold in many areas of the country. It is cold enough to make you wonder if the battery sitting under the hood of your car or truck will be up to the task of supplying enough power to turn the starter motor when you need it. The battery in your vehicle is the lead acid type that provides its peak performance at temperatures in the mid seventies. When the temperature drops to the single digits the battery power is cut in half. This means you have to make sure everything you can do to help your battery is done before the onset of cold weather. Start by
making sure the battery terminals are tight and free of corrosion. If you find the battery terminals covered with a powdery substance remove the terminals clean them with a wire brush, reinstall and tighten. You can pick up a can of battery terminal cleaner/prohibitor in any automotive section of a department store. When the battery terminals are dirty the battery has to work even harder to transfer its electrical charge to the starter motor. You also want to make sure the alternator that recharges your battery is functioning properly. A loose alternator drive belt will compromise the amount of charge being put back into your battery. If you find your battery won’t start your vehicle, have the battery checked by a service shop. If the battery is 4 or more years old, it is probably time to get a new one. Batteries are rated by cold cranking amps. This is the amount of current a battery can maintain for 30 seconds at zero degrees Fahrenheit The higher the number the better chance you have that the vehicle will start in cold weather. I recommend a battery with at least 650 cold cranking amps for cold climate areas.
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