Top News

The RAC is urging drivers to turn off six devices inside cars this winter to help keep vehicles running in the cold weather.

The chilly and damp conditions that blight this time of the year can wreak havoc with car batteries, leaving some vehicles unable to run. The problem is often worsened at the start of the new year as many cars are left idle over the festive period, allowing weaker and older batteries to slowly drain to zero. The cold winter temperatures slow the chemical reaction in car batteries that is needed to generate a charge and produce power, while the cold oil creates more resistance for the starter motor, meaning your battery has to work even harder to turn the engine over, further reducing its power.

Cars also face an increased electrical load during winter, with power needed for headlights, heaters and wipers putting extra strain on the battery, while the shorter, darker days generally means less driving than normal. This combination of factors means many drivers run into battery problems at this time of the year, but according to the RAC, there is a very easy way to preserve your battery life and avoid having to fork out for a new one.

As well as taking your car out for regular drives during the winter, the RAC urges drivers to switch off and unplug six devices at the end of every journey to avoid unnecessarily running your battery down.

The motoring experts say your lights, heater, fan, heated rear windscreen and radio should all be turned off before you switch your engine off at the end of a journey, as this prevents any drain on the battery the next time you start your car.

If you have a dashcam or any other devices plugged in, like a sat nav or your mobile phone, these should also be unplugged before turning your engine off.

In its advice to avoid a 'flat start', the RAC said: "Switch everything off at the end of your journey - lights, heater, fan, heated rear windscreen, and radio should all be turned off. Unplug dashcams and other devices which can drain the battery overnight."

To further protect your car battery, it's best to park your vehicle under cover where possible, such as in a garage, as this helps to protect it against the harsh winter weather, and to take your car for a decent run out before you need it as this charges the battery and warms the engine.

If you have a battery over four years old, it's also worth testing it as older batteries are more likely to fail in cold conditions.

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender added: "This advice is particularly relevant for families with two or more vehicles who only use one over the festive period, or anyone returning from a holiday abroad where their car has been left parked up. The combination of a long break where vehicles aren't used and the recent cold weather is a perfect recipe for the 'flat battery blues.'

"There's no exception either when it comes to the type of car you drive. Electric vehicles face the same risk as internal combustion engines because they also depend on 12-volt batteries for starting. To avoid problems, motorists should take them for occasional drives and keep the high-voltage battery charged above 20% during winter."