Onslaught of bitter cold taking toll on car batteries
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When a car sits out in 32 degrees
The first real cold snap of the season can be trouble for drivers.
Hundreds of car batteries in the region are having trouble cranking out enough power since the bitter cold settled in. Dead-battery calls skyrocket when the temperature drops, said Jim Lardier of AAA Mid-Atlantic.”If a car is sitting out in 32-degree temperature, the battery loses about 35 percent of its strength,” he said. “At zero, it loses about 60 percent of its ability to crank over.”If your battery is more than 3 years old, Lardier recommended having it checked for certain things. “Is there corrosion? Is everything tight? Are the battery cables tight?” he said. “Just make sure they are in good condition.”If you are in doubt, AAA offers a free battery check at its regional car care centers.
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