Car Battery Health Tips for Drivers
Getting into your car and finding the check engine light on, a non-functioning radio, and a slow or complete non-start for your engine would be a cause for concern for any motorist. With symptoms such as these, chances are there may be something wrong with your car battery. This is a fairly common issue, as many motorists engage in bad habits and practices that actually shorten their car battery’s lives. Rest assured, following Auto-Scrap‘s car battery health tips can help prolong your car battery’s life and avoid having to recharge it at inopportune times.
Bad Habits that Shorten Your Car Battery’s Life
The average life of a car battery is between 3-4 years, but practicing particular bad habits and behaviors can accelerate that expiry exponentially. To avoid having to replace your battery sooner than its age and manufacturer’s recommendations suggest, you should be mindful of the following common, but detrimental, practices:
Using Accessories
Everyone likes to make use of their car radio, smartphone chargers, GPS devices, and other various gadgets, but keeping them on for extended periods of time, especially when your car is off, can drain your battery significantly. The most energy-consuming accessory is your car’s headlights. Before you get out of your car in the evening, always make sure your headlights are off. If not, you can wake up to a completely drained battery.
Weather Considerations
Temperature extremes on either end can affect the performance of your car battery. Excessive heat can cause battery fluid to evaporate, while extreme cold can slow down the performance of your battery. This may not be easy in Canada, but if at all possible, try to park your car in a garage or indoor parking lot.
Prolong Your Battery With These Car Battery Health Tips
Keeping your car battery in working condition for as long as you possibly can will be much easier if you follow these car battery health tips:
Regular Inspections and Cleaning of the Terminals
Acid corrosion can build up quickly on your car battery terminals if you’re not attentive. These can disrupt the transfer of charge from the battery to your automobile’s systems, so make it a habit to check and clean them every 3-4 months. You can either do this yourself or bring it to a trusted mechanic for inspection and cleaning.
Charging Considerations
Many people believe charging their car batteries is something to be avoided because it will shorten and/or damage the battery’s life. However, charging your battery is a completely safe method of gaining a few more months or years of use, provided you use the right tools and follow the proper procedures.
First, charge the battery slowly to avoid potential damage to the part. Be careful not to overcharge the battery, which can be just as detrimental as charging it too fast or undercharging it. Use a quality charger for proper charging. Since your battery will be out in the open, it will be a perfect time to inspect it for damage and to clean it thoroughly.
Follow these car battery health tips and you can be assured of maximizing your car battery’s life to the fullest!
For more car battery health tips or to sell your car today, contact Auto-Scrap!