As the weather gets colder, your battery has to work harder to start your vehicle. If all the connections are clean and tight, enough current will flow to start the car every time. If, however, there is corrosion or loose connections, it can impede current flow, resulting in not getting enough juice to the starter to turn the engine. Corrosion is the worst enemy of the starting system. Aside from increasing the resistance in the battery cables, dirt and corrosion on the battery become a conductor that can suck power out of the battery.
Corrosion can also damage the battery cables and terminals. In the past, the battery cable was a separate piece, but in many newer vehicles, the cable is part of a larger wiring harness that can be very costly to replace. A battery service consists of testing the battery, cleaning the battery, removing the cables from the battery, cleaning the cable and battery terminals and installing anti corrosion pads. This minor operation can prevent a winter no-start or an expensive wire harness replacement. Do not use baking soda or a carbonated beverage to clean a battery because if it gets inside it will neutralize the acid and damage the battery.
Example Battery Test Report:
We want your vehicle to be reliable this winter, so if we see any problems like this while your vehicle is with us, we will recommend the best solution.
If you are unsure of your current batteries age and/or condition, schedule an appointment and we can help prevent any unexpected problems.