The battery is one of the most vital parts of a car as it provides a chemical reaction that starts the vehicle and gets it through the journey. Unfortunately car batteries aren’t perfect, and depending on what you drive, how you drive and weather conditions, there’s a chance it can start to fail. A car that can’t start because of a failing battery is one of life’s big frustrations, but there are things you can do to keep it healthy and prolong its lifespan.
Some simple maintenance can help to reduce battery problems and keep you from having to purchase a new one. One of the biggest reasons that car batteries fail is due to cold weather conditions, and there’s a big increase in the amount of call outs from vehicle recovery services over the winter. To combat this it’s advised to keep your car in a garage overnight, as this will help to keep the battery a few degrees warmer, thus reducing the possibility of a dead battery. If you don’t own a garage then try to park your car in an area that will reduce the effects of frost and wind chill. You can even purchase car battery insulation kits that are very handy in the winter.
To give your car battery the best chance to work you should ensure that anything electrical in your vehicle is turned off before you try to start it up. This will reduce the load on the battery and give it an easier time. If your battery is picking up dirt or grease around the terminals then there are also cleaning methods you can use which could help to make it work better. The dirt can potentially weaken the circuit between the battery and the car’s electrical system, so it’s always a good idea to clean it fairly regularly. To clean you should always remove the negative terminal cap first, followed by the positive one. Use a wire brush to scrub the terminals and the caps, then reapply the caps by starting with the positive first.
Another way to keep your battery in top shape is by checking the electrolyte solution levels inside it. If your car battery is maintenance-free then it will be sealed, but if not then you can turn the engine off and remove the battery caps to check the levels. If the levels are low then car battery acid can be purchased in small quantities from stores, but as an alternative you can use distilled water. Using battery acid or distilled water you can fill the cells until it touches the bottom of the fill tube, but be careful not to use too much as the solution could leak and damage the battery. Always use hand and eye protection when handling battery acid.
Frequent short car journeys are a big factor when it comes to the failure of car batteries. Unfortunately we can’t make unnecessary long journeys just to keep the car battery in good condition, but by following these tips the lifespan of the battery should be extended significantly. Keeping your car in the best condition is always a big priority, but sometimes mistakes can happen. If you accidently use the wrong fuel for your car then get in touch with Wrong Fuel Expert, the specialists at extracting the wrong fuel from your vehicle and getting you back on the road again. They can send a trained professional out to you straight away, wherever you are in the country, so make sure you give them a call when you’ve accidently used the wrong fuel.