Winter Car Battery Checklist for Metro Vancouver Drivers

Winter in Metro Vancouver is more damp than deep-freeze, but that does not make it easy on batteries. Cold mornings, rain, short trips and a heavy electrical load all arrive at once. This checklist takes about ten minutes and can save you a cold, wet wait for help.

Before the cold weather arrives

1. Check the battery's age. Most last about three to five years. If yours is past four, plan to have it tested before winter, not after.
2. Get a proper load test. A voltage reading alone can look fine on a battery that has little real capacity left.
3. Look at the terminals. White, green or blue crust means corrosion, and corrosion means a weak connection. A snug, clean terminal matters as much as the battery itself.
4. Check that the battery is secure. A loose hold-down lets the battery vibrate, which shortens its life.
5. Have the charging system checked if you have seen a battery light or flickering gauges. A weak alternator will wear out a new battery quickly.

Habits that help all winter

• Take a longer drive once a week. Twenty to thirty minutes at steady speed lets the alternator top the battery up. Lots of five-minute trips cannot.
• Turn off accessories before you shut the engine off and before you start it: lights, heater fan, defrost, heated seats and the radio.
• Park in a garage or carport if you can. Even a little shelter keeps a car a few degrees warmer overnight.
• Keep a portable jump starter or a set of good jumper cables in the car.

Signs it is time to act now

A slower-than-usual crank, headlights that dim when you start the car, a start-stop system that stops working, or a battery warning light all say the same thing: get it checked this week. A battery that is merely tired in October can fail completely the first time the temperature drops.