Winter is coming, Saskatchewan! We all know that it will be here before we want it, and it will last longer than it should. This means it’s a great time to review our tips for winter battery maintenance in your vehicle, so you’ll be ready to face whatever the season throws at you. Let’s review our guide together!
- Don’t turn on the accessories right away: This means your seat warmer, radio, or even your heater when you are starting your car in the cold. Give the alternator a few minutes to charge up your battery before you turn everything else on, or they will drain it faster.
- Take longer trips: You might think starting your car and letting it idle for a bit each day is enough to keep your battery working. This is not true! Even short trips to the store won’t be enough. Make sure you take it for longer drives throughout the week—the alternator needs that extra time to charge the battery!
- Park Inside: Whenever possible, put your car indoors. If you don’t have a garage, get creative—spend a few hours at the mall to give your car a break in the nice, warm parkade!
- Plug in at -15°C: As soon as the weather is at or below this temperature, it’s time to plug in if your car cannot be indoors! Even if your car is usually fine, don’t risk it. “Usually” can turn to “never” when your battery hasn’t been properly cared for over time!
- Use a charger: If your car won’t be used for a while, investing in a good charger is a great idea. This will make sure your battery gets the juice it needs if you won’t be charging it up by driving!
- Get tested after three years: A battery only lives for 3-5 years, so going for regular testing after the three-year mark is a great way to ensure it’s always working how it should. Make sure you do it before winter hits (like right now!) so you have time to get things fixed before the cold arrives.
- Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle: This is a good idea all year, but especially in the winter! Check out our blog post on what to include in your kit so you can make sure you are prepared.
- Clean corrosion: If you notice a white powder on your battery, this is a sign of corrosion starting. If you are worried about cleaning the battery yourself, bring it in for a checkup and let the pros handle it! If you do decide to try it yourself, make sure you look up the proper way to do it first—an all-purpose cleaner is not quite this all-purpose!
With this guide, your battery should be able to handle another Saskatchewan winter with ease! If you do run into any problems, the CAA Battery Depot team is always ready to help so you can stay safe all year round. Learn more on our website.
As always, members can reach out to our Roadside Assistance team if issues arise unexpectedly on the road. Visit our website, call 1-800-222-4357, or download the CAA Mobile App.