How to Make Your Car Battery Last Longer in the SA Heat

Most people think the cold kills car batteries, but here in South Australia it is the heat that does the real damage. Our long, hot summers, with stretches of 40-degree days, accelerate the chemical wear inside a battery and quietly shorten its life. The catch is that a heat-damaged battery often gives no warning, it works fine until the first cool morning when it suddenly won't crank.

If you have ever turned the key on a Salisbury winter morning only to hear a slow, struggling starter, there is a good chance summer was the real culprit. Here is how to get the most life out of your battery.

Why heat is so hard on batteries

A car battery works through a chemical reaction in a liquid electrolyte. Heat speeds that reaction up, which causes the internal components to corrode and the electrolyte to evaporate faster. Over a few summers this internal wear builds up. That is why a battery that might last five or six years in a mild climate often only lasts three to five years here in Adelaide's north.

Signs your battery is on the way out

• Slow or laboured cranking when you start the car
• Headlights that dim noticeably at idle
• A battery or charging warning light on the dash
• Needing a jump start, even just once
• A swollen or bulging battery case
• The battery is more than three years old

How to make your battery last longer

Drive it regularly

Batteries recharge while you drive. Lots of short trips, like a quick run to the shops at Hollywood Plaza, never give the battery a full recharge, so it slowly drains over time. If your car sits a lot, an occasional longer drive helps keep it topped up.

Keep the terminals clean

Corrosion, the white or greenish powder that builds up around the terminals, increases resistance and stops the battery charging and discharging properly. Clean terminals and a tight connection make a real difference.

Park in the shade where you can

Reducing how much heat the engine bay soaks up over summer genuinely helps. A carport or shaded street is better than baking in full sun all day in a 40-degree heatwave.

Turn off accessories before starting

Switch off the air conditioning, headlights and stereo before you start the car so the battery's energy goes into cranking the engine, not running accessories. And never leave lights or accessories on while the engine is off.

Get it tested, don't guess

A proper battery test takes only a few minutes and tells you the real state of charge and health. It is far better to replace a tired battery on your terms than to be stranded in a car park with a load of shopping.

Don't get caught out

A flat battery is one of the most common reasons a car won't start, and it almost always happens at the worst possible time. If your battery is a few years old or showing any warning signs, pop into Speed Service at 99 Cross Keys Rd, Salisbury, or call 0481 309 775. We can test it on the spot and fit a new one the same day if needed.