(NAPSA)—Preventing a froz- en battery in the winter is easier than you may think if you take some time to check out the situa- tion before nasty weathersets in. To ensure that your car battery starts dependably, no matter how outrageous the weather, Inter- state Batteries cold weather expert Gale Kimbroughoffers some simple tips to protect your car battery against severe cold conditions: Test the starting power: The cold weather can dramatically reduce a battery's available start- ing power, so have the vehicle’s starting and charging system tested every three months or Es 2 Se - @ Here’s a cool idea: Be sure your car’s battery is good condition before venturing out into the cold. In just 30 seconds, Interstate All every oil change. Battery Center locations can provide Charge the battery: Use a motorists with a free printout analy- battery charger to maintain sis of their vehicle's battery condi- with the battery itself. You need to engines require more cranking chargelevels and keepthe battery tion—from projected battery life to in good condition.If the battery is cranking performance.It’s impormore than three years old, it tant to have the battery and elecshould be tested to make sure it trical system checked by a profescan survive the coldest winter sional. Sometimes the naked eye cannot detect the presenceof corromonths. Test the battery: Have the sion becauseit is hidden under the battery tested before taking a long metal between the connection and trip or afterit’s been recharged. thepost. Inspect the battery cables, ‘A fully charged battery is the posts and fasteners: Preparing best defense against cold weather your car for the winter doesn’t end and vehicle nonstarts because and fasteners. Make sure the ampsin colder weather. The cold also reduces a battery’s efficiency, rosion keeps power from flowing engine at 32 degrees Fahrenheit inspect your battery cables, posts cables are in good shape and are reducing its charge acceptance secured firmly to the battery. Cor- and ability to start an engine. An freely from the battery, reducing the power that is available to often demands more than 150 per- cent cranking power from the bat- start the car. tery than it does at 80 degrees. At tery terminals with a wire brush 250 percent. For more information, visit Keep it clean: Clean the bat- or spray some battery cleaner on the terminals. 0 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be www.interstatebatteries.com.
