A woman is driving across a lonely highway deep in the night. Up ahead, all she can see is a long stretch of road, sandwiched by endless fields. There’s no commercial establishment or even a small hut in sight. The air is cold and sharp, and the sky is as black as a witch’s cauldron. Suddenly, the vehicle stops running. The driver tries to restart the engine, but it looks like the car battery has given up the ghost. Even if she shouts for help, there’s no chance that a living soul will hear her… Is this a scene from a horror movie? No – it’s just a friendly reminder from your auto electrical specialist to make sure your car battery is in good health before you head out, whether you’re off on a road trip or just taking a quick drive to the neighbourhood mall.
Your car’s battery is a major component of your vehicle’s electrical system. Consistently making sure that it’s clean, well-connected, and fully charged will help you prolong the life of your car, use power efficiently, save time and money from costly repairs, and well, avoid getting into car-related suspenseful situations. Here are some tips to make your car’s major power hub more empowered.
You battery’s cells contain a bath made up of a water and sulphuric acid mixture. Auto electrical specialists say that you should check the water level inside the battery every two to four months. Make sure the water level is always barely reaching the bottom of the refill hole. Refill with distilled water – tap water will cause corrosion inside the battery terminals. And while you’re at it, you can also start cleaning the terminals to make sure that there’s no rust or foreign particles between them and the connectors. Handle wires and connectors gently, and a light coating of high-temp grease on the terminal and connector joints can help protect against rust.
Aside from regular check-up and maintenance, watching the schedule of your car use can also help in maintaining longer battery life. For instance, if you’re taking a long trip away from home and you won’t be taking the car with you, you could disconnect the battery to prevent its charge from leaking. This is recommended if the car will remain unused for at least half a month. Meanwhile, if you’re taking a short trip this time, such as a drive to the nearby store, it’s probably a good idea to just take a walk. Short run times and several starting cycles can take a toll on your battery, as it takes 20 minutes with the engine on to see the battery fully charged. Unwarranted start-stop actions will not be healthy for your battery, so be conscious of your trip length every time you decide to use the car.
As with most of your appliances and devices, preventive maintenance is key to extending the life of your car battery. Auto electrical experts say that car batteries are built to last for up to five years, but most of them only make it up to three years at the use of an average motorist. Following some of these tips can help you save time, money, and the life of your car battery.
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