The changing seasons put strain on your vehicle’s various parts and systems in a unique way, and fall is no exception. As summer draws to a close, the increase in precipitation and falling temperatures affect much more than you might expect, often damaging paint, reducing tire pressure, making your battery work harder, and thickening fluids.

As an intricate network of complex components, your car’s electrical systems are also susceptible to the harsher climate, and those high-tech parts can be expensive to repair. To avoid the potential financial implications, there are plenty of preventative maintenance tasks you can try. But you may find that investing in an aftermarket warranty gives you even better peace of mind.

Let’s examine the types of electrical issues you might expect to experience in the fall, how aftermarket warranties work, and what they can do for your electrical systems specifically.

Common Electrical Issues in Fall

Just like summer’s warmer weather can put your car’s components through the wringer, the colder weather of fall has its own challenges. There are a number of common electrical issues you can expect to experience in the later months of the year, including:

Battery Failure

Hot and cold temperatures can both wreak havoc on your car, but the heat of summer has the biggest impact on its battery. The optimum temperature for batteries is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures above that can cause internal corrosion. The heat can also cause battery fluids to evaporate, damaging the battery and shortening its lifespan. When fall comes around, not only do the colder temperatures make it harder for your battery to do its job, but if the summer heat has damaged it in any way, you’ve got a recipe for failure on your hands.

Alternator Problems

Another part of a vehicle’s charging system, your alternator, can also be negatively impacted by fall weather. An alternator is effectively a motor that uses the car’s driving motion to keep your battery charged, so if your battery isn’t running efficiently, your alternator will need to work twice as hard to ensure it’s topped up. The belt between your engine and alternator will also stiffen in the cold, again making the alternator work even harder to generate the same amount of electricity. It all adds up and can be enough to push the components affected to complete failure.

Increased Accessory Use

Darker and colder days generally mean using your car’s accessories more, whether that be the lights, the radio, or the heated seats. As with anything electrical, the more you use it, the greater the chance of it failing. Having all of these things running at once also increases the strain on an already overburdened battery and alternator, putting them at greater risk of breaking down.

Wiring and Connection Issues

Fall months aren’t just colder. They’re wetter, too. The increased precipitation plus the heat generated by your vehicle creates the ideal conditions for corrosion, which can break connections in your electrical system and potentially ruin wiring.

Sensor Failures

Similar to wiring and connectors, sensors can also be affected by fall’s increased precipitation. If moisture droplets gather on sensor surfaces, they can disrupt signals and potentially cause permanent damage.

The Role of Aftermarket and Extended Warranties

Vehicle manufacturers need to build and maintain a reputation for quality workmanship to successfully convince people to purchase their vehicles. The true test of this is a car’s longevity, but even the most reliable automaker can experience unexpected manufacturing faults. To keep buyers happy and prevent reputational damage, every new vehicle rolls off the production line with what’s known as a factory warranty or manufacturer’s warranty.

This is basically a promise from the automaker to repair or replace any components — in your electrical system or otherwise — that fail on a new car within a predetermined number of years or miles traveled (whichever comes first). While it’s in place, you’re almost completely protected from the cost of repair bills, but the second it’s over, you’re financially responsible for any future trips to the repair facility.

This is where aftermarket extended car warranties come in, which effectively replace your factory warranty once it expires. You can acquire a traditional aftermarket warranty from your dealership or directly from your manufacturer, but these are usually more expensive than they’re worth and come with some frustrating restrictions. As a result, most people opt for a vehicle service contract from third-party car warranty companies, which usually comes at a better price point and includes a number of additional benefits. Of course, many of us purchase used cars, too, so aftermarket warranties are the only option available to cover mechanical breakdowns.

Extended auto warranty (or vehicle service contract) providers will offer a range of protection levels, usually beginning at a very basic powertrain plan and working up to something much more comprehensive and akin to a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Your car’s electrical system will be covered to a different extent at each level, but as a rule of thumb, aftermarket warranties will not cover any ‘wear and tear’ components. In your electrical system specifically, this means things like lightbulbs, spark plugs, and your car’s battery.

Common Aftermarket Warranty Coverage for Electrical Systems

When it comes to your electrical system, what is and isn’t covered by an aftermarket car warranty? Let’s go over the ins and outs to give you a better understanding of what you’re signing up for:

Battery Failures

Despite being a crucial part of your car, batteries are only built to last between three and four years and are, therefore, considered a wear-and-tear item. Because of this, they won’t generally be covered by an aftermarket warranty, but thankfully, they’re relatively inexpensive to replace (at least in comparison with some car repairs). RepairPal puts the average battery replacement cost between $369 and $380.

Alternator Problems

Unlike your car’s battery, its alternator is designed to go the distance and will, therefore, be covered by most warranties. Despite being connected to the engine, the alternator isn’t classed as part of the powertrain, so you’ll need a little more than the basic level of powertrain warranty coverage to ensure you’re protected.

Wiring and Connection Issues

There’s a lot that can go wrong with your wiring, and you aren’t likely to find an aftermarket warranty provider who will cover it as a result. There will always be exceptions, however, so make sure to do your research if it’s something you’d like to be a part of your contract.

Sensor Failures

Most providers will generally cover some (but not all) sensors and only at certain coverage levels. If a particular sensor isn’t protected by your policy but you’d like it to be, speak with a representative to see if it can be added. For example, Endurance Warranty offers optional coverage for high-tech electrical components, including their sensors.

While there are some things you can pretty much count on with regard to your warranty coverage, it’s always worth going through your contract to be absolutely certain. It’s the only way to truly get to grips with what your plan protects so you can avoid any nasty surprises when a breakdown inevitably happens. If you spot any gaps that you’d like to fill, get in touch with your provider to see if they offer coverage options for those parts — they may allow you to add them on.

Endurance Warranty’s Comprehensive Coverage for Electrical Systems

If you’re looking for an aftermarket warranty, you can rely on for your used vehicle, look no further than Endurance: America’s most trusted vehicle service contract provider. When it comes to your electrical system, all three of our core plans (Superior, Supreme, and Secure Plus) cover a selection of components, including wiring and sensors, but with Supreme being an exclusionary plan, you can expect it to cover the most.

Let’s put them side-by-side so you can easily compare:

Don’t see a component listed that you’d like covered? No worries. We’re always willing to be flexible, so give our award-winning customer service team a call. They’ll work with you to put together a custom plan that better suits your needs and budget.

If market-leading electrical system coverage wasn’t enough, all Endurance plans come with a suite of fantastic benefits such as 24/7 roadside assistance (including towing, fuel delivery, and lockout services), rental car reimbursement, and trip-interruption costs.

For an affordable activation fee, customers can unlock a year of Elite Benefits, which grants you up to four tire repairs or replacements annually, key fob replacement, up to $500 in collision discounts, and more. We also offer varying deductibles from $0 to $200, depending on your plan and budget.

Tips for Maintaining Your Car’s Electrical System in Fall

Component failure can’t be avoided, but follow a preventative maintenance schedule (like regular oil changes) so that breakdowns are few and far between. Whatever the season, you should always regularly check your car’s electrical system for signs of wear, overheating, or corrosion. When fall rolls around, however, there are some specific maintenance tasks you should think about:

1. Ensure all seals and gaskets are intact.

Seals and gaskets are designed to keep moisture out of your electrical system, so make sure they’re intact before the weather gets wetter. If there are any issues, head to the closest auto repair shop as soon as you possibly can.

2. Keep cables and terminals clean.

Higher precipitation brings with it corrosion, but you can keep it at bay by ensuring battery terminals and cables are clean. You can also purchase a battery terminal protectant spray, which seals the terminal and repels moisture.

3. Have your battery checked.

Have a professional take a look at your battery. They can test whether its charging capacity is still up to scratch and if your alternator is performing efficiently. Even if both are looking healthy for the moment, it’s always worth investing in a pair of jumper cables so you don’t get caught out should something go wrong.

Keep Your Vehicle Protected in Any Weather

Rain or shine, your car’s electrical system will deteriorate over time, and an aftermarket warranty is the only real way to drive with total confidence. If you’re interested in preparing yourself for unexpected repair bills, invest in an auto protection plan today. Get in touch with an Endurance plan advisor at (800) 253-8203, or you can also shop our eStore to see plans and pricing.

Before you leave, make sure to check out our extended warranty blog for more helpful articles on vehicle maintenance, estimated repair costs, and the ins and outs of aftermarket warranties.