Pin It

Car Battery Maintenance Tips

Info_lover | Jun 15, 2010 |

0 Comments | Rating: 0

A car battery is one of the most important components in a car that requires continuous check-up and maintenance. Without the electricity that it supplies, the engine of the vehicle will not be able to start and, consequently, the vehicle won't be able to move. For this reason, you will need to practice proper car batteries maintenance to extend its operating lifespan and at the same time, proper handling to avoid any accidents. In this article, I will share with you some basic car battery maintenance tips that can be learned easily.

Here are some important tips to consider in car battery maintenance:

To begin with, you should wear some hand and eye protection as well as some proper clothes if you are going to check your car battery. Bear in mind this, battery contains acid and protective gears can shield you from these corrosive chemicals inside the battery. Once you are fully-geared, you can place the battery properly and ensure that it's stable so as to avoid any short circuit.
You should check the terminals where the battery cables connect to in order to make sure they are tight and free of corrosion. If there is any corrosion present, you can get a qualified technician to clean up the battery terminals.
Never use sulfuric acid to refill the car battery, I would recommend you to use only water for refilling. Do note that some batteries don't need water refilling as they are sealed. These types of car batteries are also known as maintenance-free batteries.
You should change the battery if you happen to see any vents, cracks or swelled battery casing. It is very likely that your battery is gradually failing and replacement is a must.
Also, as part of any car battery maintenance, you have to always ensure that the battery is always clean. Even a small amount of dirt may cause uncontrolled discharge and electricity loss.
Aside from the battery, you must also check the electrical wirings and cables to make sure that there are no stray wire strands or damaged insulation that can cause electrical leaks and short circuits.
Car batteries tend to come in all sorts of sizes. When you are replacing a car battery, you have to ensure you select a battery of the appropriate size for your car.
The terminal clamp of the cable must be kept as clean as possible. Use a simple solution of baking soda and water in cleaning the terminal clamp especially when you notice the accumulation of white powdery substance around the electrodes. There are times the engine would not start if the battery terminal is corroded.
You can use warm water and a mild detergent to remove grease and dirt from the plastic surface of the battery.
Your mechanic can load-test your car battery to see if it is capable of sufficient charge on below-freezing days. Replace the battery if it does not pass the test.
You should look through the owner's manual before you disconnect the car battery so as to ensure that computer or radio memories aren't lost. You may have to enter a password to get these components working again. The passwords are usually specified in the owner's manual guide for your vehicle.

Recharging guidelines for maximum life

You should recharge the car battery immediately after each use
Use battery charger that is matched to the battery's size. This helps in car battery maintenance.
A 9-12 hour charge with the appropriate car battery charger at the correct amp rate will usually bring your battery to a full state of charge from a deep discharge.