I learned this one in a parking lot at 6 am in January. The car would not start, the battery was dead, and I was late for work in a snowstorm. That morning cost me a jump, a new battery, and my pride.

Winter is the season that kills car batteries, and most of those deaths are preventable.

Test the battery before it gets cold

Car batteries lose strength as temperatures drop. A battery that is three years old is a candidate for failure. Get it tested in the fall, before the cold hits. Most auto parts stores test batteries for free.

Keep it charged

Short trips in winter do not fully recharge the battery. If you only drive a few miles at a time, the battery slowly drains. Take a longer drive once a week, or use a battery maintainer overnight, to keep the charge up.

Clean the terminals

Corrosion on the battery terminals blocks the charge. Check for white or blue powder on the posts. Clean it off with a wire brush and a paste of baking soda and water, then tighten the connections.

Park it warmer

A garage is the best winter home for a car. If you only have street parking, park on the sunny side of the street when you can. Every degree helps when the battery is struggling.

Turn everything off before you stop

Lights, radio, heated seats, and the heater all draw power. If you leave them on, the engine has to work harder to recharge on the next start. Make it a habit to check before you shut off the car.

Know the warning signs

Slow cranking, dim headlights at idle, and a dashboard battery light are all warnings. Do not wait for the click of death. Replace the battery on your schedule, not at 6 am in a snowstorm.

I have not been stranded since that January morning. Now I test the battery every fall, clean the terminals, and take the long way home on Sundays.