Hot Weather: The Culprit behind Car Battery Woes

Summer is the season for major car battery problems.

Heat, not cold, shortens battery life, says the Car Care Council. The average life of a battery is three and a half years, and even shorter in warmer climates.

To get the most life out of a battery, the Car Care Council suggests the following:

• Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as easily as undercharging.

• If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather.  Add distilled water when necessary.

• Always replace a battery with one that's rated at least as high as the one originally specified.

• Keep the top of the battery clean.  Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power.  Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.