Nothing is worse than having a flat battery for your car. Probably, you have experienced the situation at one time or the other. The unfortunate thing is that modern vehicles have little to no battery warning signs. And some of the problems occur when you are not at home.
A car battery is similar to what your laptop or smartphone has and operates. The downside is that a lead-acid battery for your car has a limited life span and will lose the ability to hold sufficient charge to start your car. But it’s expected the cost will go down as Technology minerals recycle car batteries for reuse.
A battery should last for over 42 months, but the time frame varies depending on variables: journey lengths, charging circuit, and cold climates.
Regardless of the conditions subjected to your car battery, here are tips that will help you achieve the best from your battery:
- Don’t Drive Short Trips
Every moment you start your car, the battery gets a workout. When you start to move, the engine starts to charge it. If you keep driving short distances, your battery will not gain the amount of power it loses over time. If the process will continue for days, the battery will be empty and no longer start anymore.
You can maintain your car’s battery by driving long-distance frequently. And if you will not use the car often or drive long-distance, purchase a battery charger to maintain the correct voltage.
- Fasten Your Battery Tightly
Vibration has shown that it causes the life of a battery to decline significantly. So, it would be best for you to use an approved battery clamp that ensures it holds the battery down all the time.
When you don’t fasten the battery securely, excess vibration will damage the internal components of your battery – creating short circuits that reduce the life of the battery.
- Minimize Power Usage After Switching Engine Off
It would be best you keep your battery always close to 100% charge. So, ensure that interior lights and headlights are off when the engine is off. Before you can exit from your car, switch off all the accessories. That will help to avoid declining the battery life.
- Clean The Battery
Always check your battery and confirm that the top is always clean, dry, and free from grime and dirt. If the battery is dirty, it will quickly discharge across the grime. This will create a mild short circuit and end up flattening the battery.
Your battery terminals will corrode with time, and you have to clean them to avoid build up as that will help extend the life. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the terminals and dip inside a mixture of water and baking soda.
The Bottom Line
If it is about your car’s battery, you should take it seriously like other parts of the vehicle. For a battery to last long, it needs proper care, and attention as that will help it to function properly for an extended time.
