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Hot Weather the True Culprit Behind Car-Battery
Trouble
Excessive heat and overcharging
are the two main reasons for shortened battery life. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, this damaging the internal structure
of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging
rate. That's slow death for a battery.
True, there are more road service
calls in cold weather for dead batteries that cause starting failure. That's when a battery's output is diminished because
of sluggish electro-chemical action that gives the battery its power. Also, colder temperatures increase thickness of the
engine oil, making the engine harder to turn over. These factors lead to harder starting.
"An average of one out of four
vehicles gets a new battery every year," "Sooner or later all batteries have to be replaced, but having to so prematurely
can involve more than the cost of a road service call and a new battery, it can be inconvenient as well."
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-TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR
BATTERY LIFE WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING
- Be sure the electrical system is
charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.
- If your battery is the type that
needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.
- Always replace a battery with one
that's rated at least as high as the one originally specified.
- Keep the top of the battery clean.
Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an
insulator, inhibiting current flow.
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Cold Facts About A/C Refrigerant
How did we ever get along without air conditioning in our cars? It's a feature we take
for granted until, suddenly, it's blowing hot air.
In the past few years, many owners have discovered that fixing an inoperative air conditioner
can cost a few hundred dollars or more, depending upon the make and model of vehicle. The reason is that the old standby R-12
refrigerant, trade named DuPont Freon, has been replaced by R-134a. Touted as being environmentally safer than its predecessor,
R-134a has been standard since '94.
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