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The slow engine cranking during hot weather can affect how the car starts every time. Heat above 40degC increases electrical resistance within the starter motor, battery and wiring harness. Every time you try to start the engine, it receives less current and takes longer for it to reach ignition threshold. In modern cars, the computer (ECU), which is used to start the motor, requires a steady supply of power. The crankshaft sensor will slow down if the voltage is low. This will cause the engine to not start smoothly. Your car will struggle to start or turn on. Understanding the concept of slow engine Cranking Slow cranking is when the starter motor spins down the crankshaft to below 200 RPM at the time of ignition. It takes too long for the engine to start and it sounds weak. Healthy engines crank and start within 0.5-1.5 seconds after pressing the BCM button or turning the key. A slow start of more than 2 seconds confirms the presence of electrical faults which require immediate diagnosis. Each slow start draws an additional 50 to 80 amps beyond the normal startup current. Why does hot weather increase slow cranking in cars? The hot weather can make slow cranking worse by causing three direct heat effects to the battery, starter, and charging system. In Dubai, engine bay temperatures can reach up to 80degC between 12pm and 4pm during the peak hours of June to September. The 3 main thermal effects are: Heat above 45degC increases battery internal resistance by 30%, and reduces the cranking current of the starter motor Heat in the engine bay above 70degC causes oil to thicken and the starter to have to work harder by 40% to turn the crankshaft Heat wears out solenoid contacts and starter motor brushes, reducing current flow by up to 20% What are the 7 warning signs that drivers ignore before a complete ignition failure? In hot weather, drivers often ignore warning signs of ignition system failure. Early diagnosis can improve starter efficiency, battery stability and engine cranking. If the crank time is above 2 seconds, the engine will not start on the first attempt. The starter solenoid makes a clicking sound, but it does not grab the ring on hot starts. When the ignition key is turned to the START position, the battery voltage will drop. The engine will start fine in cold temperatures, but it will slow down after 30 minutes of heat. When the solenoid pulls high-current, AC compressor load drops, blower speeds fall. If the voltage gauge is below 11V, it means that the OBD voltage falls below 11 volts when the engine is cranking. The battery requires an external boost at least once per week, if not more. What happens inside the battery when slow cranking is ignored? Stage 1: Lead Plates Sulfate When battery voltage falls below 12,4 volts, crystals of lead sulfate grow on the positive and negative plates. Every slow crank adds an additional 5% PbSO4 onto the plates. Sulfation reduces CCA production by 30% within 4 to 6 weeks. Stage 2: Electrolyte stratification reduces cell output When the temperature rises above 40degC, battery acid separates into two layers: a dense bottom layer and a weaker top layer. The EMF of each cell drops from 2.1 to 1.8 volts when the acid is stratified. With full acid stratification, a 6-cell battery only gives 10.8 volts as opposed to 12.6 volts. Stage 3: Active material shedding reduces capacity Lead dioxide is deposited at the bottom of each cell after deep discharge cycles. Shed material on the plate grids can cause internal short circuits in 3 to 4 of the cells. Battery loses 40% CCA rating within 3 months. Thermal Runaway Breaks Full Batteries in Stage 4. The alternator voltage regulator must push the battery above 15 volts in order to charge it. Electrolyte gassing inside AGM and EFB sealed units is accelerated by 50% when the battery voltage is raised above 15 volts. When the cell heat reaches 60degC full failure will occur in 7-14 days. What Happens to the Starter Motor When It is Ignored to Slow Crank? Affected by slow cranking, the starter motor draws 300 – 400 amps per start compared to 150 – 200 amps per normal start. This high current will burn out the armature windings, and pit the commutator surface in 3 to 6 weeks of repeated hard starts. The replacement of starters in Dubai workshops depends on their defect and the car model. Cost savings for replacement of the root battery fault via replacement of the AGM unit are substantial as compared to full starter motor replacement costs. Effects of Slow Cranking on ECU and Ignition Stability When attempting to start for an extended period the battery drops below 9.6 volts due to slow cranking. Fuel injector pulse width and ignition coil dwell time are stable at 9 volts or greater on the ECU. If the voltage is below this, then there are 3 fault responses: fuel injector delay, ignition coil shutdown and ECU KAM reset. ECU KAM reset wipes adaptive fuel trim data built up over many kilometres of driving. The engine needs to learn this information in the first 200-300 km and increases fuel consumption by 8-12% for the first 200-300 km. Professional Diagnostic Importance in UAE Conditions 3 key pieces of equipment are employed in battery diagnostics in UAE heat: carbon pile load testers, OBD voltage scanners and conductance meters, all looking for hidden faults before they reach full ignition failure. The carbon pile load test, with 50% CCA rating, verifies battery health in less than 3 minutes. A properly performed diagnosis every 6 months will detect a failing battery 4 to 6 weeks before it fails to crank. 800 Car Battery Replacement is an authorized car battery replacement services in Abu Dhabi and UAE that offers load testing services to assure vehicle reliability. Read Also: Al Jafiliya Bus Station Final Thoughts If the engine cranks slowly in

When the temperature reaches 35degC, car batteries lose up to 33% of their energy. The parts of the battery can break down quickly in hot environments. This knowledge can save you from having your car break down suddenly on the road. It is important to check your battery and cooling systems regularly. The heat can cause the inside liquid to dry out, destroying the lead plates. Regular battery checks will keep it strong and ensure that it can survive the summer heat. How Does Heat Change Battery Chemistry Internally? Heat really affects car batteries. It makes the chemicals inside the battery react faster. That is not good for the battery. This means the battery does not work well and it does not last as long when it is hot outside. There are a things that heat does to a car battery: 1) It makes the reactions happen faster so the energy that is stored in the battery gets used up faster 2) The fluid inside the battery that helps the power flow between the plates does not work well 3) The heat makes the lead plates inside the battery get bigger. That puts pressure on the walls of the battery 4) It makes it harder to start the engine because the battery does not have much power When it gets really hot above 35°C the fluid inside the battery gets about 30% weaker. This means the power flow between the plates is reduced by 15% to 25%. So when it is hot outside the battery just does not work well. Heat speeds up chemical reactions. Breaks down the fluid stability, inside a car battery, which cuts battery power and shortens the life of the car battery. Why Does a Battery In Extreme Heat Lose Its Lifespan Faster? A car battery loses a lot of its life when it gets really hot, like above 40°C. When it’s hot, the liquid inside dries up and the plates inside get rusty. The parts start to break. This ruins the battery’s power for good. If a battery can last 5 years in weather it will only last 2 to 3 years, in really hot weather. Every time the temperature goes up by 10°C the batterys life gets cut in half because the chemicals inside get destroyed. The battery chemicals get damaged fast in high heat. Car batteries just don’t last long when its hot outside. Which Internal Components React to High Temperature? Three main components of a battery react to heat: the lead plates, the liquid acid and the plastic separators. Extreme heat accelerates chemical damage. This reduces battery life by half for every 10degC rise in temperature. Lead Plates: Heat can cause grid corrosion and material loss. The plates become thinner and weaker. This reduces the power of the battery. Acid Liquid: High temperatures can cause acid drying and water evaporation. As liquid levels fall, plates become permanently sulfated, which prevents them from holding an electric charge. Plastic Separators – Constant heat can cause material to warp and become brittle. These thin sheets can fail and the plates will touch, causing an internal short-circuit. H2: How Do Dubai Drivers Identify a Heat-Affected Car Battery? A car battery that is getting too hot will show you 7 signs before it completely stops working. If you notice these signs early you can avoid getting stuck on the side of the road and having to pay a lot of money to replace the battery. Slow Engine Cranking When you start your car for the time the engine turns over slowly and weakly. This is because the battery is not strong enough to give the engine the power it needs. Swollen Battery Casing The battery gets too hot. The gas inside builds up pressure, which makes the battery casing stick out on one or more sides. If you see the casing is swollen it means the battery is getting hot inside. Terminal Corrosion You will see blue stuff on the positive and negative terminals of the battery. This corrosion stops the electricity from flowing. Makes the battery charge more slowly which is not good. Dashboard Warning Lights When the battery gets too hot it makes the warning lights on your dashboard come on. You will see lights for the engine, battery and alternator all at the time. Frequent Jump Starts If your car battery is getting too hot you will have to jump-start it a lot. If you have to jump-start your car more than a week it means the battery is not holding a full charge when you are not driving. Acid Smell When the liquid inside the battery gets too hot it makes a smell that is like sulfur or something burning. This smell means the battery is breaking down inside. Voltage Drop Below 12 Volts If you check the battery when it is not being used and it is below 12 volts it means the battery is not working well because it is too hot. If it is, below 11.8 volts you need to replace the car battery away. How Does Dubai’s Climate Influence Battery Performance? Heat, traffic and exposure to the environment are all factors that increase battery stress in Dubai. Heat above 40degC reduces battery efficiency quickly. Five major local factors are: Reach 45-50degC temperature during peak summer. Increase internal temperature by 20% when adding engine heat load. Exposure duration can be increased by increasing the time of traffic congestion. Raise parking heat levels under direct sunlight. Accumulate dust particles, reducing cooling efficiency. Best Ways to Protect a Car Battery From Extreme Heat? Batteries that are exposed to extreme heat require 6 steps of maintenance, which must be performed before and throughout the summer. Shade parking: Covered areas can reduce the surface temperature of your bonnet by as much as 20degC. Check electrolyte levels every three months. If they are low, refill the container with distilled or filtered water. Corrosion cleaning: Remove terminal deposits monthly using a mixture of baking soda

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