Battery woes are common in winter, but what the people in the battery business know is that summer weakens a battery. Heat is what really damages your battery, with the increased demand of cold-weather cranking finishing the job. What can you do about it? Here's what's covered in this tip: 

• Inspecting your battery - both basic and advanced
• Managing your battery's load
• The meaning behind those battery rating numbers
• Resources for testing, parts and service

First, Inspect Your Battery

• Look for leaks in the battery.
• Make sure there are no cracks in the case.
• Check for and remove corrosion on the terminals.
• Ensure that all cable connections are tight, including interconnecting battery cables, battery and mag switch cables to the starter, alternator cables, and beyond...
• Inspect the drive belt on your alternator -- is it tight and in good condition?
• Repeat these checks frequently in bad weather -- the chemicals used to de-ice roads can be highly corrosive.

Load-Testing and More...

These checks require equipment and experience. Mechanically-inclined owner/operators or fleet service shops may be able to do them; your Kenworth PremierCareŽ Parts & Service dealer can certainly run them. 

• Check your batteries with a load tester.               
• Test the cranking, solenoid control and charging circuits for excessive voltage drop.

Drawing on Your Battery to Stay Comfortable?

The advice here is to buy an inverter specifically designed for your truck - your best source to guarantee this is the dealership, not a truck stop, where they may be selling RV or marine inverters. Kenworth PremierCare dealers offer a line of Delco Remy inverters for sleeper/truck applications with low voltage protection to ensure that your truck will start when you're ready to go again.

Need a New Battery ? Here's What the Ratings Mean... 

• The CCA, or Cold Cranking Amps, number is how much power a battery can deliver at 0° F (-18° C). The number can range from the 500s to over 900 and is measured in amperes.
• The CA, or Cranking Amps, number is the power delivered at 32° F, or 0° C. A battery's ability to supply power is halved by every 10° drop in the temperature.
• Reserve Capacity, RC is the third number that gets referred to, and while it may not be on the battery, it's important - especially for truck drivers who run stereos, VCRs, fridges and other accessories. The RC is the number of minutes that a fully charged battery at 80° F can be continually discharged at a 25 ampere load (a substantial load) and still maintain a voltage of 10.5.

Resources for Testing, Parts and Service 

• Servicing a fleet? Talk with your Kenworth PremierCare dealer about handheld analyzers such as Delco Remy's Intelli-Check II and various Midtronics models which allow you to test different elements of your electrical system.
• Fleets should use TMC Recommended Practice (specifically, RP129) for maximum allowable voltage drop when testing charge/start circuits. Your dealer can help you get these guides.
• Preventive Maintenance is not an indulgence, it's a great way to keep your truck in excellent running condition year-round...if you'd like to learn about Kenworth PremierCare's Preventive Maintenance programs and which one would best suit you, click here.
• Should your electrical system lose its charge, call 1-800-KW-ASSIST for free assistance in contacting a dealer and arranging the service you need! You can learn about the Kenworth PremierCare Roadside Assistance program here.
• And finally, your Kenworth PremierCare Parts & Service dealer carries a full array of electrical system components from a variety of original equipment manufacturers, including Delco Remy and Exide Technologies, and supporting parts such as battery cables from Dynacraft. You can easily find the parts you need with SmartSearch and Cross Reference, the online listings of parts available through your dealer.