| Blue skies, sandy beaches, the smell of freshly cut grass, vacation road trips - many things come to mind when you think of summer - and your battery is probably not one of them. |
| The same warm temperatures that you enjoy so much are your battery's worst enemy. Unlike cold weather where a battery may begin to show signs of weakness, in hot weather you may not have any warning that your battery is about to fail. |
| It's important to plan ahead so you don't find yourself with a car that won't start. You should know that your battery has a much tougher job during extreme conditions. Hot weather combined with smaller, cramped engine compartments creates high under-hood temperatures. This causes accelerated degradation and corrosion of battery components - resulting in reduced battery life. |
| The older the car, the greater chance for problems. Combine an old battery and high temperatures, and you're asking for trouble. |
| To be on the safe side, you should get your battery tested. Better yet, if your battery is more than 3 years old or you live in a hot climate, you may want to consider replacing it. A brand new battery can see you through the hottest of summers. Be prepared before you head out on a summer road trip. |
| Other tips: |
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Try our Battery Health Checkup to see how long your battery is expected to last. |
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Have a qualified professional check your battery's water level if it has removable vents. |
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If you live in a hot climate, investigate new batteries that are specifically designed to handle extreme heat year-round. |
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