Don’t let the chill kill your car battery and flatten your mood this winter

If the frosty mornings aren’t biting hard enough, a flat car battery will likely push you over the edge, and with a ‘polar blast’ sweeping Australia, Battery World is educating motorists on how to avoid being caught out this winter.
The company says it is “the country’s leading battery retailer” and states that according to its market data, more than 50 percent of vehicle breakdowns are battery-related.
Further, more than 85 percent of early battery failures are the result of a flat or faulty battery.
“From March to August, we see a surge in car battery sales due to the colder weather conditions, which reduces the battery’s ability to start the car,” Battery World General Manager, Johnny Kennedy, said.
“We see on average a 25 percent increase in car battery sales over this period compared with the September to February timeframe.”
Johnny says winter is a risky time for car batteries. They need to be regularly tested and maintained to keep them in good working order, especially when your car isn’t being used.
Temperature extremes like the ‘polar’ blast currently sweeping across Australia, including WA, SA and NSW, often lead to cars failing to start.
According to Johnny, car batteries may seem fine during warmer weather, but if you don’t remember when you last replaced the battery or haven’t had it checked in the last 12 months, chances are you are going to get caught out with a faulty battery failure.
“The average life of a car battery is about three and a half years, so if you’ve had yours a while and it’s starting to sound sluggish, perhaps consider replacing it before you find yourself in a pickle when it comes to school drop-off, an important meeting or that last-minute appointment,” Johnny said.
“Our advice is don’t panic, save yourself the stress and hefty fees associated with an emergency callout. Get yours tested, it’s completely free at all Battery World stores.”
The franchise network says its data shows that the ‘Don’t Panic, Plan’ message is being heard, with bookings for free car battery tests up year-on-year.
“Motorists are becoming more aware that it’s cheaper and more convenient to test early than pay for the delay,” Johnny said.

For more from Battery World, visit www.batteryworld.com.au