Plummeting Temperatures Could Cause Car Trouble, AAA Warns

AAA Oklahoma, Feb. 19, 2015 – With Oklahoma’s next winter storm and frigid temperatures just around the corner, now is a good time to make sure your car is ready for the weather. AAA suggests checking batteries, tires, fluids, belts, hoses and windshield wiper blades.

“Last Monday when conditions were so bad, AAA responded to 531 calls for help from AAA members across Oklahoma,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Of these, 242 motorists needed a tow, 100 were in a ditch and needed to be winched out, and 75 had battery or ‘can’t start’ problems. The rest of the calls that day were for unlocks (71), flat tires (38) and out-of-fuel (5).”

Cold Weather Drains Car Batteries

Cold weather is especially hard on car batteries.  According to AAA’s Automotive Research Center, the colder it gets, the more cranking amps your car’s battery loses. At 32 degrees, it loses 35 percent of its strength, at 22 degrees, about 42 percent and at 0 degrees, a car’s battery loses about 60 percent of its strength During cold temperatures starting an engine can take up to twice as much current as needed under normal conditions.  Temperatures are expected to drop into the 20’s this weekend.

Warning signs that you are at risk for a battery-related breakdown:

 ·        You hear a grinding or clicking sound when you turn on the ignition.


·        Your vehicle cranks slowly when attempting to start.

·        Your headlights dim when idling but brighten when the engine is revved.

·        Your battery is more than three years old.

AAA’s Winter Survival Kit 10-Point Checklist

Flashlight with fresh batteries

Blankets

Booster cables (and know how to use them)

Warning devices, such as flares or reflective triangles

Small bag of abrasive material, such as sand or clay-based cat litter to spread in front of your power wheels to gain traction on ice

Paper towels

Small shovel

Cell phone with vehicle charger cord

Can of de-icer

Ice scraper

How to Go on Ice and Snow

 Brush up on your driving skills by taking a look at this AAA YouTube video: How to Drive in the Snow

Winter Weather Driving Tips from AAA

·        Slow down. You’re more likely to lose control of the vehicle when roads are wet or icy.


·        Increase following distance. This will allow time for a controlled stop.

·        Know when to brake and when to steer. When traveling more than 25 mph, AAA recommends steering rather than braking to avoid a collision in wintry conditions, because less distance is required to steer around an object than to brake to a stop. In slick conditions, sudden braking can lead to loss of vehicle control.

·        Do not use cruise control and avoid tailgating. Normal following distances of three to four seconds for dry pavement should be increased to eight to 10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces.

 What to Do in a Front-Wheel Skid


Regardless of whether the vehicle has front-, rear- or four-wheel drive, the best way to regain control if the front wheels skid is:


·        Continue to look where you want to go.

·        Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

·        Avoid slamming on the brakes. Although hitting the brakes is a typical response, slamming on the brakes will only further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to regain control.

·        Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again. As soon as traction returns, the vehicle will start to steer again.

·        When the front wheels have regained their grip, steer the wheels gently in the desired direction of travel.

AAA is North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization with nearly 55 million members. A not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization, AAA Oklahoma serves its 378,000 Oklahoma members with emergency assistance on the road, auto travel counseling and a wide range of personal insurance, travel, financial and automotive services through branch offices, a regional operations center and online at AAA.com.