What causes a battery to fail?
Heat, vibration and malfunctioning vehicle electrical systems are the largest contributors to battery failures. How does a car’s charging system work? A modern automobile’s vehicle’s charging system consists of 3 major components: Alternator – Mechanical device driven by the engine accessory belt. It provides continuous voltage to replenish the battery while the engine is running. Voltage Regulator – Monitors the battery’s state of charge and adjusts alternator activity as necessary to charge the vehicle’s battery and provide power necessary to run accessories. Battery – An electrical reservoir used to store electrical energy until it is needed by the vehicle’s starting system to crank the engine and power the fuel and ignition systems. What effect does extreme cold have on my battery? Cold temperatures dramatically reduce the effectiveness of chemical reactions within the battery, while increasing the battery’s internal resistance. Both of these cause a reduction in cranking power as
