For those of us in Arizona, we all know too well that temperatures aren’t exactly pleasant all year long. Those hot days we experience are draining, not only for us, but also for the batteries in our vehicles. Heat is one of the leading causes of car battery failure, but as none of us control the weather, there isn’t much we can do about it. However, there are certain things we can do to combat the toll the heat takes on our car batteries.
One of the challenges faced as a result of excessive heat is the loss of water in car batteries. As most of us learned in 5th grade science class, when water is exposed to heat, it evaporates. This poses a threat to the functionality of car batteries, as they are filled with a water and acid combination to conduct electricity. This evaporation from the heat causes the water level to decrease over time, leading to internal damage and a dead battery.
How can I fix the lack of fluid in my car battery, you might ask? Some people take to replacing the fluid losses in their battery by adding water. While this solves the low fluid level issue, it can lead to the problem of overfilling the battery. If such a problem occurs, when the vehicle is started, the battery fluid can overflow, leading to acid damage and corrosion of surrounding parts. Your best bet in this case is to take the vehicle to a trusted auto repair shop and have them look at your battery.
Battery terminal and connection corrosion also occurs because of the evaporation of battery fluid. These issues can cause the clamps from battery cables to fit improperly, which in turn renders the battery useless. This corrosion can not only damage the battery itself, but it can also damage surrounding structures. The simple fix for this is to clean off the terminals, but be careful not to touch any battery fluid, as you could sustain an acid burn … yikes! It might be better to schedule a battery service with your local auto repair shop, so you won’t have to worry about that.
Another issue associated with rising temperatures is swelling or bulging of your car battery. This can cause cracking of the battery and leaking of fluid, and we already know what damages that can cause. When inspecting the battery yourself, be sure to wear eye protection, long sleeved clothing, and gloves as acid burns are quite unpleasant. Unfortunately there is no simple fix to this one, so replacement of your car battery is imminent.
As with all of these heat issues, the safest way to deal with them is to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop. Even though the heat is very damaging, preventative maintenance is key to minimizing these damages in the long run, so be sure to have your battery serviced every couple of years.
