Your Car Battery Won’t Fail in the Summer…Will It?

The frigid winter weather is a distant memory. Instead, you enjoy steamy hot summer days and day trips to the beach. Oh yeah, and there’s the long waits in bumper-to-bumper traffic on your daily commute. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about harsh winter weather causing annoying problems with your Acura, like a dead car battery when it’s time to leave work. Summer weather isn’t hard on your car…is it?

The Harsh Reality of Summer Weather

Unfortunately, hot weather during the summer months can be just as harmful as the deep freeze. Your car’s cooling system, brakes, and especially your car battery can have troublesome issues due to the heat. A car battery, whether it’s in your Acura or any other type of vehicle, prefers to stay cool. Temperatures that feel uncomfortable for you are the same conditions that your battery can do without as well. The operating range for a standard, run-of-the-mill lead acid car battery is up to 122F. Under the hood of your car, it gets much hotter than that. When the temperature exceeds the operating range, the electrolyte fluid in the battery begins to evaporate. Now when your engine is running and the alternator is trying to charge the battery, it can overcharge and shorten your battery’s lifespan. Every time that happens, your car battery gets a little weaker. Eventually, it’s not able to hold enough charge to start your engine reliably.

How to Deal With a Car Battery in Summer

There’s no way to avoid the heat during the summer. Your battery is going to experience high temperatures sooner or later, and you can’t do anything about it. However, you can monitor your car battery’s condition and stay ahead of problems. Every spring or summer, have your Acura’s car battery tested during your seasonal inspection. If your battery is weak or fails the test, have it replaced with a new one. A car battery typically lasts between three and five years in the harsh climate Missouri experiences.   If your battery is weak, you need your battery tested, or you need a new car battery for your Acura, we can help. Jay Wolfe Acura in Kansas City will stay on top of your battery’s condition on each visit so you can keep driving responsibly.