Why does a battery fail in winter?

Roadside-assistance statistics are merciless: most flat batteries happen with the first frosts. It’s no coincidence — winter hits the battery from several sides at once.

Frost lowers the battery’s capacity

Chemical reactions in the battery slow down at low temperature. In severe frost the real available capacity can drop by tens of percent — a battery that worked flawlessly in summer may no longer cope in winter.

A cold engine puts up more resistance

At the same time the engine oil thickens, and the starter has to overcome greater resistance. So the battery has a harder job to do with less power available. That combination most often ends in a refusal to start.

Short trips finish the battery off

• More loads in winter: window and seat heating, the blower, lights
• Short city trips don’t manage to recharge the battery
• Stops in the frost deepen the discharge
• An old battery has no reserve left for these conditions

Winter doesn’t damage the battery — it merely reveals the wear that was invisible in summer.

How to prepare

Before the season it’s worth checking the battery’s condition, and if it shows signs of wear — replacing it in good time. Far cheaper and more convenient than resorting to a jump-start in the frost.

We’ll replace the battery at your address — including in winter, even when the car no longer starts.