Frigid winters, sizzling summers, and everything in between can affect your engine, battery, tires, and the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. If you have had trouble starting your car on a freezing morning or noticed your AC isn’t keeping up in the summer, you’ve experienced this firsthand.
If you’re driving a gas-powered vehicle, hybrid, or fully electric car, here are a few things to keep in mind when the temperature swings one way or the other.
Cold Weather Car Battery Upkeep
If your car won’t start in cold weather, the most common culprit would be your battery. Car batteries work by converting chemical energy into electrical energy, which starts the engine. As temperatures drop, the chemical reactions inside your battery slow down, requiring the battery to work harder to produce the same amount of power.
Once the engine is running, the alternator begins to recharge the power used to start it. However, most internal combustion vehicles need about five to 15 minutes of driving to recharge the energy used.
This doesn’t mean your battery has fully recharged after your morning commute. To completely recharge a battery through regular driving could take several hours and is far less efficient than taking it to an auto shop for a recharge. What Is the Best Car Battery For Cold Weather?
Shopping for car batteries can be tricky. There are numerous brands producing car batteries that are so similar that it can be hard to tell them apart. While some may have a better reputation than others, the name on the label does not matter as much as one might think.
The most important factor to consider when purchasing a car battery is its cold cranking amps, or CCA. On the technical side, this measures the maximum current, in amps, that a new, fully charged battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 0° F. The higher the number, the more power your battery can provide in the cold.
This is important because batteries tend to degrade over time. For example, a 500 CCA battery may only deliver 400 CCA after three years of use, which may be insufficient to start your vehicle. A 600 CCA, on the other hand, would offer more margin as the battery ages, extending its usable life span.
What To Know About Electric Cars in Cold Weather
Many of the same issues that affect gas-powered car batteries also apply to the power supply in EVs and hybrids, but with a few extra quirks. Unlike traditional batteries, EV battery packs play a significantly larger role in powering every aspect of the vehicle’s operation, making cold temperatures even more problematic.
Does Hot Weather Affect Hybrid Car Batteries?
Electric and hybrid car batteries, along with traditional car batteries, are affected by temperature extremes, high and low. Hot and cold weather will likely reduce the range of your hybrid or electric car, but for different reasons.
In extreme cold, your range can decrease by as much as 40%. The reduced efficiency of lithium-ion batteries in low temperatures and the high energy consumption of cabin heating both contribute to this.
Similarly, running your air conditioner during the summer takes a significant amount of power, reducing efficiency in any car, but especially for EVs, where every watt counts toward your remaining range.
My Car’s AC Is Not Blowing Cold Air—Here’s Why
There are several reasons why your air conditioner may not be working, and luckily, many of them are easy and affordable to fix.
Compressor Function and Pressure Build
First, your AC may not be malfunctioning at all. Your air conditioner is controlled by a clutch connected to your crankshaft, which takes rotational energy from your engine to power a compressor.
This is the same type of component that cools your refrigerator or your entire home. The compressor needs time to build up pressure to begin cooling the air, and if you’ve been driving for a short time or at low speeds, this can lead to a lag between turning on your AC and actually feeling cold air.
AC Recharge and Cooling Performance
The second most common reason for your hot car is that your AC needs a recharge. Your AC system doesn’t use the same cooling system as your radiator and needs to be charged separately. Even though the systems are separate, many engines include a safety feature that turns off the AC before it overheats, as the AC unit consumes a significant amount of energy, causing the engine to run hotter.
There are more complex problems that may need to be addressed, such as a leak in your AC line, a faulty compressor, or a broken clutch, but we recommend ruling out other, more common causes of car problems before taking it in for maintenance.
Why Is My Car Running Hot?
It’s natural for your car to run hotter in the summer than in the winter. Your radiator draws heat away from your engine through the coolant, dispersing it into the air. When the air around your car is hotter, your radiator will be less efficient. However, if you see your temperature gauge climbing above the midpoint and staying there, there’s likely more going on than the climate outside.
The first thing you should check is your coolant. If you live in an exceptionally cold area, a rich mixture of coolant to water—about 60/40—will help lower the freezing point of your coolant. This balance provides protection against freezing in the winter and overheating in the summer.
Get Fast, Reliable, Quality Auto Maintenance and Repair From Kennedy Transmission
The changing seasons can take a toll on your car quickly if you’re not keeping up with regular vehicle maintenance. The good news is that most of these problems are preventable and often inexpensive to fix if you catch them early.
We’re here to help you get back on the road, season after season. Contact our team at Kennedy Transmission to schedule an appointment today. We have automotive shops throughout Minnesota, offering convenient access for customers across the area, whether you need affordable routine maintenance or major repairs.