The Most Common Cause Of Car Breakdowns Is Also One Of The Easiest To Prevent
A cold morning, a push button or key turn in the ignition - and nothing, or a slow, fading crank from the engine.
It's a familiar winter frustration for thousands of drivers and one that's often avoidable.
New data from Australia's largest battery retailer Battery World shows up to half of all roadside assistance callouts in Australia are battery-related, making a failing car battery the most common cause of breakdown - and one of the most preventable.
The data, drawn from Battery World's own roadside assistance service and its network of more than 118 stores nationwide, is being released ahead of winter.
General manager Johnny Kennedy is urging motorists to have their car battery tested at Battery World to prevent being one of the statistics, stuck at home or on the roadside with a dead battery that happens so often when the temperatures drop.
"Half of all roadside callouts are battery related is a significant number, and what makes it more striking is that the vast majority of those situations could have been avoided," Mr Kennedy said.
"A free battery test takes minutes. An unexpected roadside callout or being without your car does not, and costs you time and stress."
Cold weather reduces a battery's ability to start a vehicle and rapidly expose weaknesses that may have gone undetected through summer with Battery World recording a significant increase in battery demand between March and August each year.
This winter, motorists are also facing added pressure from high fuel costs, leading some Australians to leave their cars parked for longer periods, putting extra pressure on unused batteries.
"People are making reasonable decisions about how often they drive given the cost of fuel, but a car sitting in the driveway for days or weeks takes a real toll on the battery," Mr Kennedy said.
"It is an unintended consequence that not many drivers are aware of."
On average, a car battery lasts between three to four years, depending on climate, driving habits and usage. Drivers who cannot recall when they last replaced their battery or have not had it tested in the past 12 months, are encourages to visit their nearest Battery World store before winter sets in.
"Do not wait for a slow crank on a cold morning to tell you there is a problem," Mr Kennedy said.
"The test is free, it takes a few minutes, and it could save you a very costly and stressful start to the day."
Three steps to protect your battery this winter
- Keep it charged. Avoid leaving your vehicle unused for extended periods. Always lock the car to power down the electrical system. Keep keyless remotes at least five metres from the vehicle to prevent passive communication and battery drain. Do not rely on idling to recharge a flat battery as modern charging systems are designed to reduce emissions at idle and will not reliably restore charge.
- Check your terminals. Inspect battery terminals and cables for corrosion. If you see white powdery buildup this is a good indication the battery is coming to its end of life and should be checked and tested.
- Get a free battery test. Modern vehicles provide little or no warning before a battery fails. Battery World offers free battery testing at all stores nationwide. The test takes only a few minutes.