Cold snap causes hundreds of car batteries to die across Adelaide
Hundreds of car batteries carked it across Adelaide on Monday. Find out why.
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Hundreds of car batteries have carked it as temperatures plummeted across Adelaide with the RAA Road Service recording it’s busiest Monday since 2019.
RAA patrols replaced 333 car batteries across the metro area thanks to near freezing temperatures on Monday morning – more than double the daily average of batteries sold.
Parafield Gardens, Morphett Vale, Prospect and Happy Valley had the most failed batteries with RAA mobility expert Mark Borlace warning older batteries would be more vulnerable.
“Temperature extremes like the cold mornings we’ve had this week often lead to a spike in battery failures,” he said.
“The fact this cold snap has come after our long, warm summer would also have made the impact more significant.
“Many batteries may seem fine in warm weather but if they’re a bit older or weaker, they might not be strong enough to cope with a big drop in temperature, where the chemical reactions slow down significantly.”
Monday marked Adelaide’s coldest morning of the year with the city recording a minimum temperature of 3.1C at 7.26am – the lowest temperature since September last year.
The chilly weather is expected to hang around this week with the potential to see some showers as we head towards the end of the weekend.
Extreme temperatures can affect car battery chemistry by reducing their output, often causing marginal batteries to fail.
Cold weather can also make engine oil thicker, meaning more power is needed to start the vehicle.
For those with an older car battery, Mr Borlace recommended checking that it’s still starting ahead of time.
“If you’ve got a car with an older battery sitting in the garage this week, check that it’s still starting before you need to go somewhere urgently,” he said.
“Most batteries will last about three years so if you’ve had yours a while and it’s starting to sound sluggish, consider replacing it.”
RAA members can book a car battery replacement by calling 13 11 11, via the RAA app or online.
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Originally published as Cold snap causes hundreds of car batteries to die across Adelaide
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