I just moved from New York City to Palm Springs, California where summer temperatures can hit 110+ for a prolonged period of time. I have heard that I will need to replace the battery in my car every two years or so because of the extreme heat. Is this true? Is there anything else I should know about keeping the car in good condition in such a hot climate?
Thank you!
2006-07-23 13:54:57 · 6 answers · asked by Jodi S 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Keep in mind that the battery is just a tank holding lead plates and water... yes, that water has acid in it but still... water. In the heat, this water will evaporate over time as most lead acid batteries have vents to release hydrogen gas as they charge so they are open to the hot air.
Maintenance free batteries aren't maintenance free at all, this is mostly just a marketing ploy to keep you in a vicous circle buying batteries. These vent caps do come off and you can maintain your battery just like we did decades ago... Look inside and observe the water level in each cell. It should come up to the bottom of a plastic tube with a slot cut into it. This slot is an indicator of sorts and proper battery water level should be somewhere on this slot. A lot of these batteries have caps designed to keep you out and with those you are stuck with the warranty until you get bold enough to "break" them which then allows you to check and adjust water level like normal. Too bad it voids most warranties but then this is also part of the marketing ploy to keep you buying batteries!
I live in Texas and I can tell you that most people here seem to replace batteries every 2-3 years at the very least! So often in fact, that they like going to Walmart and getting their warranty so they can keep getting new batteries all the time. It's senseless really when all you need to do is maintain the water level properly.
If you do add water, make sure it is DISTILLED water... the kind you put in your iron. The impurities and minerals in regular water will end up causing problems in your battery. Grocery stores have it in one gallon jugs.
The only other advice I have regarding your car in the heat of the south... is to make sure the radiator coolant is a 50-50 mix and has been replaced within the last two years. Your radiator cap should be good too as the system keeps from boiling by raising the pressure.
Tire pressure varies greatly with the variances of temperature so keep a good lookout for adequate pressure there too. Always check when cold and pressurize to either the specified value shown on the sticker in the car's doorjamb or that specified on the tire sidewall.
Good luck In Palm Springs! That's a big move but you can say goodbye to the winter as you know it. Say hello to pollution though...
2006-07-23 14:13:30 · answer #1 · answered by Les 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I lived for many years in Southern Arizona where the summer temps are comparable to Palm Springs. My batteries always lasted the stated lifespan of the battery if they were properly maintained.
1. Twice a year remove the cables and clean both the cable and battery contact surfaces so you see good fresh lead. After bolting them back on, coat the terminals with a sealant.
2. Twice a year check the water levels in the cells. If they are low, fill with distilled water. The high temperatures can cause evaporation from the battery cells, even in batteries that claim to be no maintenance.
With this regular maintenance you should get 4 years out of a 48 month battery, or pretty close.
2006-07-23 21:13:14 · answer #2 · answered by wcholberg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Extreme temperature changes do increase wear and tear on a battery, but going from NYC to California, isn't such a big deal. Bottom line is well built, quality batteries will last longer than cheap batteries, as long as the electrical system in your car is functioning normally. From time to time even a good battery can fail or go bad earlier than normal, but this is rare.
2006-07-23 21:12:25 · answer #3 · answered by Nc Jay 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO. A car battery is sitting wear?? Most of them are where the engines at. So, a little cool heat from the Cali sun won't effect it at all. Usually a batteries avg life is 4-6 yrs. Depends.
2006-07-23 21:02:08 · answer #4 · answered by Silverstang 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes that is true but a good car battery should be changed every 4 years
2006-07-23 20:57:39 · answer #5 · answered by italianpanther7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
extreme heat and cold reduce battery life so when its hot try to park in the shade and when its cold use a safe heating unit approved for that application
2006-07-23 21:04:03 · answer #6 · answered by Jason I 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋