It’s not only in the winter that we have to look after our car batteries. Now that cars are more advanced and there is a larger load put onto our batteries, they have become the most common reason for breakdowns. The good news is there are some straight forward tips that you can follow to increase the lifespan of your car’s battery and maximise its performance.
These 4 Tips Will Help Keep Your Car Battery Running Smooth
Please remember to stay safe when handling your car’s battery. It contains a lot of energy and could damage you or your car if handled incorrectly. You should handle your battery with rubber gloves, as this adds a nice layer of protection and be careful when leaving tools on your battery, as you could connect the positive and negative terminals together which would cause a short circuit and a fire.
1. Disconnect your battery
Before working with your battery, disconnect it from the vehicle. Unscrew the connectors from the terminals. While you’re there, you can give them a clean with a terminal brush. This will increase the contact area, which will improve charging and its ability to start in the cold.
2. Maintaining your battery charge level
You should aim to check your car battery charge every six months (two if you drive short distances often.) Use a multimeter to check your battery’s condition. If it’s low, use a smart charger.
3. Visually check the condition of your battery
Look around the battery to make sure that it is clean and undamaged. You can do this while it’s still installed to the vehicle and is worth doing every time you look under the bonnet. Keep it clean as your battery will slowly discharge and this could cause damage over long periods of time.
4. Clean your battery
Clean any crust and corrosion off, especially around the battery’s terminals, with a solution of baking soda and water as this will neutralise any electrolytes that might be on the outside of the battery. Ensure that you dry it off once you are done.
Car Batteries in Cold Weather
If you plan on storing your car for an extended period of time, you may want to consider removing your battery to prevent it from any excess draining. You will need to either fully charge your battery every 2 or 3 months, or use a trickle/smart charger. The best way to store batteries long term is in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space.
When is it Best to Replace Your Car Battery?
Car batteries usually last roughly three to five years, depending on how well they are maintained. Keep an eye out for signs of failure, such as difficulty starting or you may notice that your headlights darken very quickly once turning the engine off.
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