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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., July 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-eight states and more than 100 cities have posted their warmest first six months on record, according to a recent National Climatic Data Center report. While most motorists associate dead automotive batteries with cold winter weather, it is actually the heat from the summer months that can wreak havoc on the vehicle's battery.

"Extreme heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then damages the internal structure of the battery, causing it to fail," said Joe Finney, SVP & President of Sears Automotive Group. "Many car batteries go on life support in the summer and actually die in the winter months," Williams said. The average life of a battery in the northern U.S. is five years, whereas a battery in the southern U.S. may only last two years."

It is hard to predict exactly when a battery may die, but it usually happens without warning. According to an independent survey of Sears Auto Center stores, it costs an average of $100 and over two hours of time to replace a battery after failure, which could have been prevented thru proactive maintenance.  

To avoid being stranded, here are some steps to avoid the cost and inconvenience of a surprise breakdown from the experts at Sears Auto Center and the DieHard brand:

• Stay One-Step Ahead: Get your battery tested at any for free. Test batteries that are more than three years old annually.
• Be Proactive: Over 78 percent of Sears Auto Center customers wait for a battery to fail or an incident to occur before replacing a battery. When customers get a multipoint inspection at Sears Auto Center, if their battery is more than four years old they will receive a 10 percent discount, now through Aug. 4, on any battery – America's most preferred automotive battery.
• Stay Cool: When possible, park your car in a garage or shaded area.
• Avoid Buildup: Clean any corrosive buildup from battery terminals and cable clamps, and ensure the clamps are tight enough that they will not move.

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About Sears Auto Center
Sears Auto Center is a leading provider of automotive maintenance and repair services and parts, with more than 850 locations nationwide offering a full array of passenger and light truck tires, DieHard® batteries, Craftsman® auto accessories and more.  Sears has a long history as America's trusted place for car care, having offered auto parts since 1905 and service since 1931.  Sears Auto Center offers customers convenient locations and hours, as well as an extensive menu of services.  Sears Auto Center is a division of Sears, Roebuck and Co.

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears Holdings is the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at .

Contact Information:
Larry Costello
Sears Holdings Corp.
(847) 286-9036

Kasey Salt
Zeno Group for Sears
(312) 731-0233
Kasey.Salt@zenogroup.com

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation