One of the most essential components of your car is your car’s battery. Heat acts as a killer of car batteries. Every 8 degree Celsius rise in temperature cuts the life of a sealed battery by half. This means that a sealed-lead acid battery lasts for 5 years if it is exposed to 30 degree Celsius; however, if it is constantly exposed to 41 degree Celsius, its life span would drop to 12 months.
In a place like UAE, where heat is unavoidable during May and September, 40 degree Celsius is a norm. Since the outside temperature is at an average of 40 degree Celsius, people switch on their car ac to counter the heat. Since most car batteries are designed to function at an ambient temperature of 25 degree Celsius, it is no surprise that car battery life in UAE decreases to two years.
Batteries consist of a mixture of acid and water and when your battery is constantly exposed to heat, it causes the liquid to evaporate slowly. This decreases the level of fluids leading to unprotected internal plates of the battery which cause damage.
One of the biggest disadvantages of heat damage is that the capacity of the battery can get altered permanently which can never be restored. In result you will have to go for the only option of battery replacement. Thanks to technical advancements, starter batteries are now designed to be more heat resistant, according to the 2010 BCI Failure Mode Study. The lifespan of a starter battery has been increased by 55 months.
When it comes to choosing the most reliable system for a hot climate area, a standard flooded lead-acid should be your pick. With regular topping up, good ventilation and good maintenance, these batteries can easily last a long time. Some of the leading companies have come up with these batteries to help people who live in hot climate areas. When you are purchasing a battery, make sure you look at the marking of “S” or “South” on the case of the battery.
Reasons Your Car Battery Starts Overheating
Along with a hot climate, there are various reasons your car battery is overheating and some of these reasons are given below:
Defective alternator
Alternator is a part of the car which is responsible for recharging the battery. If it has developed some sort of issue, it may send extra voltage to the car which may result in heating up. In this case issue can be resolved repairing defective car alternator
A weak battery
A weak battery causes the alternator to put in more effort to recharge the battery. This continuous charging can cause the battery to heat up.
Short circuit
There are two kinds of short circuits that can cause the battery to heat up- internal and external. An internal short circuit occurs when the positive and negative plates come in contact with each other when both separators melt from an overheated cell. . Whereas, an external circuit occurs when the terminals come in contact through a piece of metal. External damage will cause unnecessary heating and may result in the battery exploding.
Improper charger use
Using an incorrect battery charger can cause your battery to heat.
Loose terminal connections
A looser terminal will increase the resistance and cause the battery to heat up.
Wrong grade battery cables
Using poor quality battery connecting wires can lead to increased resistance resulting in excess heat.
Extreme temperatures in the engine bay
Mixed with hot water, radiant heat from the ground and extreme heat from the car engine can cause the battery fluid to evaporate which leads to battery overheating.
Malfunctioning cooling system
Every car comes with a cooling system, if there is an issue in the cooling system, it will cause the battery to overheat.
A large draw on the battery
Too much load on your car’s battery can cause it to overheat.
Signs Your Car Battery May Be Overheating
There are a few signs that help you identify that your car may be overheating. Some of these symptoms are given below:
- Your car’s engine cranks slower when you start your car
- The battery light is activated on the dashboard
- The case of your battery looks swollen
- The battery connection points are corroded
- Your car’s headlights or interior lights get dim
- You bought the battery three or more years ago
- When you look at your battery, you will see that the fluid level is low
Tips To Prevent Your Car From Overheating
An overheated car could create a lot of hassle. Instead of going through all that hassle and then finding a cure, it is better that you try and prevent it. Following are some of the tips that will help you prevent it:
- Be mindful of the climate. If you live in an area where the weather conditions are hot, avoid driving long distances and if you do, make sure you take regular stops so that your car engine can cool down,
- If you are planning on not using your car for a while, remove the battery as it will prevent it from overheating
- Check your battery’s condition. Weak and older batteries require additional charging which leads to overheating. Regularly inspect your batteries as this will help you identify corrosion build up on the terminal before it becomes an issue of overheating.
- Check your coolant reservoir to ensure that the coolant is fine. Without it, your car can overheat easily.
- Use your heater if you notice your battery light activated or the temperature gauge rising. This will prevent your engine from overheating.
- Check that the interior and exterior lights of your car are turned off when you leave it.
- Don’t use electronics when the engine is off.
- Keep your battery and battery posts clean as dirt becomes a conductor which leads to drained battery power.
- Park in the shade to protect your car from overheating due to excess sunlight.
If you live in the UAE and are looking for car battery services then you can contact BattMobile. Along with battery services, we also provide fuel delivery, boosting services and various other services as well. To contact us, use our toll-free number i.e. 562-528682.
