How Arizona Heat Affects Your Car Battery

Extreme heat speeds up battery electrolyte evaporation, exposing internal components to corrosion.

Higher temperatures accelerate the chemical reactions that wear down battery plates over time.

Heavier A/C use and short summer trips add electrical demand to an already-stressed battery.

A battery that looks fine can still fail without warning once heat has worn it down.

A professional inspection before and during peak summer catches problems before they leave you stranded.

Faster Battery Fluid Evaporation

In the high heat of summer, extreme temperatures can cause your battery's electrolytes to evaporate faster than they normally would. As that evaporation occurs, the battery's internal components become exposed to the elements.

✓ Extreme heat causes battery electrolytes to evaporate faster
✓ Lower electrolyte levels expose internal battery components
✓ Corrosion occurs as the battery dries out
✓ Eventually, the battery can experience premature failure

Not only can heat reduce your battery's overall lifespan, but the likelihood of internal corrosion increases as the battery's electrolytes continue to evaporate. Eventually, that battery can dry out, caused by the extreme summer heat, which can eventually lead to premature battery failure.

Increased Internal Wear

Extreme heat also impacts the chemical reactions inside your vehicle's battery by speeding up those reactions. Once that happens, the internal components within your battery start to wear down faster. That leaves battery plates exposed to corrosion.

✓ Heat speeds up chemical reactions
✓ Increased heat exposes internal components
✓ Battery plates are exposed and corrode faster

Ultimately, corrosion will impact the battery's ability to create and hold a charge. In the end, continued exposure to high temperatures will lead to a reduction in your battery's performance.

Heat-worn plates corrode faster.

Extreme Heat Increases Electrical Demand

You know the feeling. Every summer, you and your family must drive in triple-digit temperatures that routinely reach 100°F or higher. However, it's not just the heat but also the humidity, and in Arizona's monsoon season, that humidity can become extremely difficult.

Combatting that heat and humidity involves using your vehicle's air conditioning. However, increased AC usage draws more power from your vehicle's battery. This issue is further exacerbated by short trips that may not allow your battery to fully recharge. An older battery often struggles to meet the increased need for electricity until eventually, the battery fails.

More A/C use means more electrical demand.

Best Solution: Schedule a Professional Battery Inspection

The best possible solution is to schedule routine battery inspections at the Thoroughbred Nissan dealership. Having your battery tested immediately before and at least once during Arizona's hottest months is a preventative step you can take to avoid those dreaded battery failures. After all, there is nothing worse than not being able to start your car in Arizona heat because of a dead battery.

✓ Regular battery inspections guard against corrosion
✓ Our service department will test the battery's charge

We are Nissan experts. Our factory-trained Nissan mechanics, technicians, and parts specialists work as one to ensure your vehicle handles anything the Arizona summer has to offer. Our team will inspect the battery and terminals to ensure no corrosion is taking place. We'll then test the battery to ensure the charge is sufficient and that you're not dealing with a battery near the end of its useful life.