Car Battery Died in the Heat? Why It Happens and What to Do

It’s a hot afternoon off Foothill Blvd, and you’re leaving Victoria Gardens. You load the bags, turn the key, and get a sad little click. The car sat in the sun for a few hours, and the battery picked today to quit. If batteries seem to give up more during an Inland Empire summer, you’re not imagining things. Here’s why it happens and what to do next.

Short answer: Heat speeds up the wear inside a car battery and dries it out, so a battery that seemed fine can fail on a hot day, or weeks later when the weather cools. If yours dies, get to a safe spot, turn on your hazard lights and call for a jump start. Splendid Towing Assistance jump starts light, medium and heavy duty batteries around Rancho Cucamonga. Call (909) 757-8831.

Why does heat kill car batteries?

Most cars use a lead acid battery, which makes power through a chemical reaction. Heat speeds that reaction up, and it speeds up the wear too. A summer of hot days does damage that a mild spring never would.

• The liquid inside the battery can evaporate faster.
• The metal plates inside wear out and corrode faster.
• Corrosion builds up on the terminals, so power has a harder time getting through.
• The battery gets the sun from above and engine heat from below.
• The AC, chargers and screens put more load on the charging system.

Think of it as a slow tan for your battery. Nobody looks good after too much sun.

Why did my battery die in the heat when it worked fine yesterday?

Battery damage builds up quietly. A battery can lose strength all summer and still start the car every morning, right up until the day it can’t. That day often comes after the car sat in the sun, after a lot of short trips, or when something was left drawing power, like a dash cam or an interior light.

Some batteries make it through summer and then fail on the first cool morning in fall. The cold just asked for more power than a heat-worn battery could still give.

Is it the battery, or something else?

A dead battery is common, but it’s not the only reason a car won’t start. Here’s a quick guide:

If the gauge says empty, the battery is innocent. Our fuel delivery brings enough regular, premium or diesel to reach a gas station.

What should you do if your battery dies on the I-15 or I-10?

If the car loses power while you’re driving, the battery or charging system may be failing, and the car can stall in traffic. Take it seriously.

1. Turn on your hazard lights right away.
2. Signal and move right one lane at a time, only when it’s clear. Get off the freeway, or stop on the shoulder as far right as you can.
3. Stop on flat, firm ground, away from curves, and set the parking brake.
4. In most cases, stay in the car with your seat belt on and the doors locked while you call for help.
5. If the spot feels unsafe and you can get out on the side away from traffic, move well away from the lanes, behind a barrier if there is one. Never stand between your car and traffic.
6. On a hot day, keep water with you, and never leave children or pets in a car with no AC.

Is it safe to jump start a car yourself?

It can be, with good cables, a working car and a safe place to do it. A busy freeway shoulder is not that place. Batteries can give off gas that can catch fire, so a few rules matter:

1. Read the jump start section of your owner’s manual first. Some cars have special jump points.
2. Don’t jump a battery that’s cracked, leaking, swollen or smells like rotten eggs. Call for help instead.
3. No smoking, flames or sparks near the battery, and keep your face back from it.
4. Connect red to the dead battery’s positive (+), then red to the good battery’s positive (+).
5. Connect black to the good battery’s negative (-), then black to bare, unpainted metal on the dead car, away from the battery.
6. Start the good car, then try the dead one. If it won’t start after a couple of tries, stop and call for help.

What does our jump start service include?

When you call Splendid Towing Assistance, a trained driver comes out with the right equipment for your vehicle. We jump start:

• Light duty batteries: cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups
• Medium duty batteries: vans, box trucks, motorhomes and RVs
• Heavy duty batteries: big trucks and buses

From a compact at Victoria Gardens to a box truck on Milliken Ave, it’s the same idea, just with bigger cables. See our jump start service for details.

What if the car still won’t start after a jump?

Sometimes the battery is too worn to hold a charge, or the problem is the alternator or another part. Then we can tow your car to the repair shop of your choice. Luxury, lowered and all-wheel drive cars ride on a flatbed. Learn more about light duty towing, or medium duty towing for vans, RVs and box trucks.

How much does a jump start cost?

Every call is a little different, so we don’t post prices online. When you call, you get a free estimate and an upfront price before we start. Extra work found on site can add to the price, like a tow when the battery won’t take a jump, and the driver tells you before doing it. A jump start is an affordable fix, and it usually costs less than a tow.

How can you help your battery survive an Inland Empire summer?

• Park in the shade or a garage when you can, and use a windshield sunshade.
• Have the battery tested at a parts store or repair shop before summer and before road trips.
• Keep the terminals clean and tight. White or green crust means it’s time for a check.
• Mix in a longer drive now and then. Short trips don’t give the battery time to recharge.
• Turn off lights, chargers and accessories when the engine is off.

Your car can’t wear a sun hat, so a shady parking spot is the next best thing.

Jump start help around Rancho Cucamonga

Splendid Towing Assistance is based in Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. We help drivers with dead batteries in Rancho Cucamonga (including Alta Loma and Etiwanda), Upland, Ontario, Fontana, Rialto, Montclair and Claremont, on the I-10, I-15, CA-210 and Foothill Blvd (Route 66), and on streets like Haven Ave and Archibald Ave. Our regular hours are 8 AM to 11 PM, every day. We’re available day and night, so call any time. See all our roadside assistance services.

Frequently asked questions