BIRMINGHAM, AlabamaWBRC) – Temperatures drop into the 30s this weekand auto experts are warning drivers that they may encounter some problems.

“These battery problems never come at the right time or place,” says Clay Ingram of AAA Alabama.

Ingram says most car batteries only last about three years, and freezing air can shorten their lifespan even further.

If drivers have had their battery for a few years, he recommends having it checked before it’s too late and the car won’t start.

“They now have great battery testers that can tell you the overall health of your battery,” says Ingram. “He can tell you if he’s in pretty good shape or in really bad shape and about to come after you.”

He said battery testing can help consumers make an informed decision about a potential replacement.

Cold weather will definitely cause a driver’s tire pressure to drop, according to Ingram.

If a tire needs 34 PSI and the gauge reads 32 PSI, drivers will probably be fine, but AAA shared drivers really need to address it if the gauge is off significantly. This is often less than 30 PSI for most cars.

“Having underinflated tires can make you more prone, more likely to have a blowout or flat tire, it wears out your tires much faster and it also affects your gas mileage,” says Ingram.

The AAA spokesperson added that drivers lose 2 percent of their fuel efficiency for every pound of pressure from an underinflated tire.

He recommends checking tire pressure once a month and said many discount tire stores across the state will put air in your tires and check the tread for free.

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