Taking care of your battery can save you money, trouble and the expense of replacing it. Start by using a baking soda/water mixture to clean the battery terminals and cables.
Keep it charged by turning off headlights and other accessories when you’re not driving. This prevents parasitic drain that eats up the battery’s charge.
Check the Battery Case
Your car battery is the heart of your vehicle. It not only starts your engine but also runs the electrical mechanisms inside, including your radio, power windows and headlights. Using these devices while the engine isn’t running or the car is parked can drain your battery quickly. Find out more at Car Battery Maintenance.
A battery can also die because of physical damage or internal problems. Check the battery case for cracks or bulges. A swollen or bloated battery case indicates overcharging or an internal leak that can decrease its lifespan.
It’s also a good idea to regularly inspect the battery terminals and cables for signs of corrosion. A layer of corrosion can hinder the flow of electricity from your battery to your car’s electrical systems. Clean the terminals with a mixture of baking soda and water or with a wire brush to prevent corrosion and to help preserve the battery. Keeping your battery in good shape is essential to your car’s performance and safety.
Clean the Terminals
Corrosion on the battery terminals can impede the flow of electricity from the battery to your car’s electrical components, so it’s important to clean them regularly. This process can be dangerous, however, so it’s important to follow all safety precautions. This includes wearing gloves and eye protection.
First, disconnect the negative battery cable – this is usually marked with a (-) sign and is black. Then, remove the positive cable – this is typically red and has a (+) sign on it. You should always disconnect the cables in the correct order to avoid damaging sensitive electronic components inside your car.
Next, use a toothbrush and cleaning solution to scrub away any corrosion on the battery terminals. After scrubbing, rinse the terminals and posts with water. Finally, coat both terminal clamps with petroleum jelly or battery grease to lubricate and protect them from future corrosion.
Run a Battery Test
Getting a battery tested is one of the easiest ways to make sure that it’s still good, and will hold a charge for the next six months or so. Unfortunately, battery testing requires a special tester that’s not cheap, but some auto parts stores like “Auto Zone” will loan equipment for a small deposit.
Start with the engine off and disconnect the battery’s negative cable from the terminal (you might need a wrench or some auto-safe battery pliers to do this). Set your multimeter to measure DC voltage, and connect its red probe to the positive terminal and black probe to the negative terminal. A reading of 12.6 volts or higher indicates a good battery.
You can also perform load tests using a battery tester, which measures how well the battery holds a load and compares its performance before and after drawing power from it. Load testing can reveal problems that may affect a battery’s longevity.
Top Off the Battery
Car batteries and engines are complex pieces of machinery that work together. Keeping both parts well-cared for keeps your entire vehicle running smoothly.
A few simple steps can make a big difference in battery performance and longevity. Ask your Tate Boys mechanic to run a battery test, clean the terminals, and top off the fluid when needed.
Batteries with removable caps should be checked for fluid levels on a regular basis. Replenish the battery with distilled water, but do not overfill as the acid needs room to expand during charging.
Leaving your vehicle parked for extended periods of time can drain the battery. Make sure the headlights and other electrical accessories are turned off when the engine is off to prevent unnecessary battery drain. Also, park in a shaded or garage-controlled area to protect the battery from extreme temperatures.