Battery health critical to keeping vehicles running in frigid weather

Southern Ontario is bracing for bitter cold. CTV’s Colton Wiens has some tips to make sure your car can survive the frigid evening.

Drivers may want to spare a thought for their vehicle batteries ahead of a burst of bitterly cold weather in southern Ontario.

Auto experts reported an increase in the number of vehicles with battery issues as temperatures dipped this week.

“Really, it comes down to battery health right now,” Nadia Matos, manager of External Communications with CAA South Central Ontario, said. “A lot of people are getting to their vehicles. They’re turning it on and realizing their battery is just not making it through the winter months.”

According to Matos, about half the calls coming into CAA South Central Ontario this week have been regarding battery issues. She expected that to increase as frigid temperatures continue.

“In general, if the battery is weak, the cold weather will show it to you,” Jim Voigt, owner of Columbia Auto Service in Waterloo said. “Anything on the vehicle that’s poorly maintained or badly worn, the cold temperatures will expose that, and you’ll end up having a problem.”

Experts said parking indoors is best.

“That is going to help to reduce the atmospheric temperature by about ten degrees. So that will definitely help,” Matos said.

But if you can’t park indoors, checking your battery regularly is crucial.

“Check your battery twice a year when that season changes - when you get your winter tires on, when you get your winter tires off. You want to make sure that your battery is in good working health,” Matos said. “Not a lot of people realize that the average battery lasts about three to five years because of all of the electrical demands that we’re placing on our batteries with modern vehicles.”

Block heaters, an electrical device for cold climates that warms a vehicle’s engine and fluids before starting, used to be more common. Matos said modern technologies have led to fewer vehicles in southern Ontario that have the device installed. Matos said if your battery is healthy, you shouldn’t need a block heater in southern Ontario, but you can always get one installed.

Beyond the battery, experts said it’s important to be prepared for winter driving as well. That involves keeping your gas tank at least half full to reduce a build-up of condensation and having extra windshield wiper fluid on hand.

“Don’t spend any money on that summer windshield wiper fluid. It’s not the season to do that. Because, in the winter months, it becomes all about visibility. You can have snow in the morning and sun in the afternoon and rain in the evening. And if you run out a windshield wiper fluid. You want to make sure that you have enough to make sure that it’s visible. And then you can see the road in front of you and everyone around you as well,” Matos said.

Drivers should also keep an emergency kit in their vehicle.

“Emergencies can happen when you least expect it. So, throwing an extra blanket in your trunk, some water, some nonperishable food items and things to keep you warm. You’re thinking tea lights, waterproof matches - if you happen to get stuck on the side of the road, a tea light can keep you warm for quite a bit of time,” Matos said.