South Africa’s climate might be beautiful, but it’s not always kind to your car battery.
Whether you’re facing a freezing Highveld morning or a scorcher in the Lowveld, temperature swings have a direct impact on battery performance, and understanding why can save you money, avoid breakdowns, and reduce headaches.
Cold Weather: The Silent Battery Killer
As the temperature outside starts to drop, your car’s battery has to work much harder to deliver the same amount of power.
The cold temperature slows the chemical reactions in your car’s lead-acid battery. When the weather gets chilly, the oil thickens, making a starter motor work harder.
If your car’s battery is a bit older, it might not have enough power to crank over the vehicle’s engine.
For those who suspect their car’s battery is struggling with the cold, a significant symptom is if your vehicle starts:
- With a slow cranking on start-up
- The lights on your dashboard start dimming on start-up
- And your car is battling to start after an overnight park
For those concerned that their car’s battery will not survive the frigid cold, make sure to test it to determine its health. A healthy battery, fully charged, is around 12.6V–12.8V, while a reading below 12.4V could indicate it could struggle.
Also, make sure to keep your car undercover when possible, as keeping your vehicle’s battery warm will help.
And when possible, take your car for a longer drive to keep the battery fully charged.
However, if your battery is weak, replace it before the cold snap hits.
Hot Weather: The Silent Battery Shortener
On the other side of the temperature scale, extreme heat often kills batteries faster than cold. The main issue with heat is that it can accelerate internal corrosion inside a lead-acid battery.
The battery’s fluid evaporates more quickly, reducing its lifespan. Some engine bays can exceed 70°C, turning the area around your battery into a literal oven.
Symptoms that your battery is being exposed to extreme temperatures include swelling of the battery’s casing.
If you’re not looking under the bonnet, you’ll notice a loss of power to electrical systems.
If you suspect your battery is under strain from heat, it’s best to have it inspected before the peak summer road-trip season. Keeping battery terminals clean is also important, as heat accelerates corrosion at connection points.
Alternators Suffer In Extreme Heat
The last check to do is the alternator’s output. A modern alternator uses a voltage regulator to control the amount of charge delivered to the battery.
This regulator constantly adjusts output based on temperature.
When it gets extremely hot:
- The regulator’s internal components (transistors, resistors, diodes) become less precise.
- Heat increases electrical resistance, causing the regulator to “misread” the correct charging voltage.
- And then the regulator allows too much current to flow from the alternator to the battery.
This, in turn, can result in overcharging. A strong indicator that your car is overcharging your battery is the smell of rotten eggs, caused by the production of hydrogen sulphide gas.
Humidity, Rain, and Moisture
In areas with high humidity and moisture, these elements usually don’t affect the battery’s internal chemistry.
However, these elements can wreak havoc on:
- Terminals
- Cables
- Surrounding electronics
However, it’s best to take a year-round approach to protect your battery.
How to Protect Your Battery Year-Round
There are simple ways to extend your battery’s lifespan, regardless of the weather.
A simple tip is to get a free battery test every 6–12 months, just to check its health.
Most Xpress Batteries Battery Centres will test your battery for free in minutes.
Another obvious tip is to ensure your vehicle keeps moving. However, multiple short trips mean lower charges. A longer drive will help fully recharge your battery.
We also mention that it’s a good idea to check your charging system. This means checking the health of your alternator and voltage regulator, as these components play a bigger role than you think.
Visit a Xpress Batteries
Visiting a Xpress Batteries gives you quick, reliable battery testing, and if there’s a problem, trained technicians can fit the correct replacement on the spot.
With a wide range of SABAT batteries and nationwide support, a quick stop can help you avoid breakdowns, tow-truck costs, and weather-related hassles.