The car batteries are an important part of a vehicle and these are considered as the powerhouse of a car as they control various parts. Checking this part periodically is certainly a significant work for the owner. But, in reality no one actually bothers to get it checked or serviced periodically except if the battery refuses to to work. Since, the batteries are the life spark of a car; therefore, it is essential to keep the battery of the car well maintained to prevent any issues.
Important Tips for Car Battery Maintenance
Properly maintained car batteries can prevent unwanted problems while driving. In order to have a suitable working vehicle, the battery needs to be in a good working condition as well. A fully charged and corrosion free battery is what benefits both the car and the car user. An ineffective or dead battery cannot supply power to the areas of the vehicle that is required to start up the car. Listed below are some of the tips that can help in proper maintenance of the car:
- If the vehicle is taking time to start; then there could be an issue with the battery. An immediate testing of the battery is what will help you in getting the problem resolved soon.
- Leaving the car under sun may cause damage to the battery as the heat may start reacting with the chemicals in the battery and this may cause the battery to lose its charge or fail completely. Therefore, one should avoid exposing the battery to the direct heat.
- Keep the battery clean, especially around the terminals because if there are signs of corrosion, one may need to get the old battery replaced with a new one. Regular cleaning with a terminal brush can keep the battery in a better condition.
- It is important to keep the battery fully charged but an overcharged battery can also cause issues. A car with an overcharged car battery can behave like a battery that is losing its charge, and wear out.
- If the battery ammeter on the instrument panel lights up or if the internal and external lights are dimmed, it may indicate that the battery is not functioning properly. Therefore, the battery testing must be done.
- When taking the vehicle for oil, filter or a tyre change, one should also ask the mechanic to check the battery and they can also tell how long the battery will work.
- Signs of protruding or distortion on the battery can indicate that the battery was exposed to high temperatures. In such circumstances, the battery may require a replacement.
- Signs of leakage, foul-smelling battery will indicate that the battery has been damaged.
- Ensure that the battery’s electrolyte is at appropriate level to help the battery to last longer.
- Electrical accessories such as car stereos need to be switched off immediately to save the electrical energy, which in turn would help in saving the battery life.
- Avoid short trips; instead you can go for the long trips as the car should be run from time to time for the battery to hold charge.
- Periodical checking of the water level is important for car battery maintenance. Distilled water is the best choice for the battery; however, overfilling may lead to corrosion and cause damage to the battery. Use a plastic or rubber tools over the metal tools for refilling purpose as it might contaminate the water quality.
These simple tips can certainly help the vehicle owners to maintain the car batteries.
Thus, prevent an unpleasant situation and ensure continuous performance of your vehicle by keeping the car battery well maintained.
