The bitter cold weather Iowa’s seen lately is causing a lot of cars to conk out. Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A Iowa, says they’re getting plenty of calls for dead batteries, keys locked inside cars and other wintertime troubles. White says the most common problem is tires as the pressure per square inch drops substantially when the temperature drops below freezing. She says it’s important that motorists make sure their tires are properly inflated.
As people are brushing the snow off their hoods and scraping frost off the windows, White says many motorists are finding they’ve locked themselves out with the engine running. She says it’s illegal in many communities to leave the vehicle unlocked, unattended and running, since doing so encourages auto theft. Mechanics are being kept busy in the frigid weather, replacing car batteries.
White says many batteries will only last four years or so anyway and the Iowa weather is particularly hard on them. She says the excessively cold winters and hot summers can drain the vehicle’s electrical system. If you’re in the market for a new battery, White says to get one with a high cold cranking amp rating. She suggests getting your battery tested at a service station if you think your vehicle is losing power.