A battery isn’t something you would expect to be affected by weather; as long as it’s charged, most batteries just work. Vehicle batteries, however, are actually noticeably impacted by cold weather. You may notice on especially cold mornings that your vehicle is a little slower to start then normal...that’s because your battery struggles a little more than usual in the cold.

Car batteries are even stamped with two different ratings - cranking amps (CA), and cold cranking amps (CCA), which are posted on the top or side of your battery. These numbers indicate what sort of output your battery is capable of in normal conditions, and excessively cold conditions, respectively. Sometimes your CCA can even be 100 amps lower than your CA. For example, a battery which is typically capable of producing 650 amps to start your car may only produce 550 in the cold, which is a significant loss.

Ordinarily, assuming your car has the correct battery, your engine doesn’t need the full capability of the battery to start your car. However, if a battery is starting to weaken, you may not notice until temperatures dip low enough to deprive your car of the cranking amps it needs. One day when the weather has turned, you may find yourself in need of a jump.

There is a way to prevent getting stuck in the cold, however. Our technicians at Harold's Used Auto Parts Inc in Philadelphia, PA have the equipment and knowledge necessary to test a battery and see what kind of condition it’s in, and can catch a failing battery before it becomes a problem. If you know your battery is old, doesn’t sound quite as robust as it once did, or would simply like the peace of mind, drop your vehicle by for a quick battery test. We’ll either catch a faulty battery before it has a chance to fail, or you’ll leave knowing your battery is ready for the months ahead. If you do need a new battery, we can take care of that too. Call or come see us today!