Can cold weather cause batteries to run flat?

[kineticz]

I have not driven my car for two days and when I went to start it today, the battery has run flat. Is this due to the very cold temperatures we've recently had at night? Or is it because the battery installed simply isn't big enough for my needs?

I have a small audio system installed, HID headlights, and the heating is obviously on alot of the time thesedays if any of this makes a difference. I also do regular drives roughly 30 miles in distance which I thought would be enough to keep the battery charged up with all the 'appliances' turned on while driving.

Thanks all
Dan

 

[Phillc]

The winter will always show a bad battery, as we drive with the lights on more and as you say the heaters, all this puts abig strain on the battery if it was on its way out winter will finish it of,i would say the battery needs replacing.

 

[mgl]

Humidity and cold is an enemy for the electric parts of a car.Check battery connections if they have any humidity.When did you intall your battery on your car?

 

[Muttley]

How old is the battery? They do wear out, and this usually shows up at the start of the cold season. A cold battery doesn't perform as well as a warm one (chemical reactions go slower at lower temperatures) oil gets thicker in the cold (making the engine harder to start) and more use of lights and heater fans means there's less power to recharge the battery. So it is possible that your battery is wearing out. A good independent tyre-and-battery fitter should be able to check your battery's condition and tell you if you need a new one, and also if the one you have fitted is the right size for your car.

 

[kineticz]

The battery is quite new, was only fitted say... 3/4 months ago

What spec batteries do you guys have on your Leons?

 

[Jonboy582]

I don't know if its related but I was told the cold can drain batteries. Such as a mobile phone, its life will run out quicker in the cold.

But then again this is the instructions I got with a coat that had a "mobile phone pocket" which was inside to keep it warm and prolong its life.

Also as the others said you use the battery more when its cold, especially if your car is not starting first time.

 

[kineticz]

Some days when starting recently I can tell the battery is low, but it always starts first time and runs quietly.

But because I didn't drive it at all for a day, it's run flat

 

[chrisphysics]

I'd get it charged up and give it another go if it's new. You can always replace it if it fails again.

Do you do long enough journeys to charge it? Is your altenator working fully?

 

[stevei'D]

Bit odd for a battery to run flat if its only 3/4 months old, could suggest another fault, i.e not chraging correctly. Get it tested, Halfords have a box of tricks, get them to stick it on and test it will come up with 1 of several readings.

On the same note i do a fair amount of mileage and have never had a dead battery in 8yrs of driving, my focus one lasted 8yrs! My mum however being a district nurse (lots of stop start) goes through one every couple of years.

 

[MrJohnnyB]

Obviously the cold will affect a battery negatively, it converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Particles are less active when cold thus more likely to run flat. Likewise particles are more active when warmer... That said, i'd be a bit surprised if it was just the cold weather, I'd of thought there would have to be something more sinister at work, otherwise all leon owners would eb fooked over crimbo.

 

[kineticz]

Well I removed it and gave it a full charge in the garage (removed as it was raining) and put it back in. We'll see how long it holds the charge now

 

[NickT]

Maybe your alternator is on it's way out and not charging the battery, although if this was the case you would have the alternator warning lamp (picture of a battery, top row, 2nd in from the left) lit up when driving?

 

[kineticz]

Nope no warning lights on when driving. Except when I pull the handbrake round corners LOL only joking.