For any electrical system, the batteries are the heart and soul. Cars are no different.
Batteries store power to start the vehicle, and they are recharged once they’re drained out.
A lot of people who hear the words ‘car battery maintenance’ go through a mini heart attack, not knowing that this is actually one of the easiest DIY tasks to maintain a car.
Step one in DIY battery maintenence is to keep your battery terminals clean.
Corrosion in the terminals can be caused by a number of external factors, such as exposure to salt in the air or even repeated jump-starting.
If you find any corrosion, it’s best to clean the terminals out completely using a wire brush as this will help preserve the connection between the cables and your battery.
Another step to maintaining a good car battery is routine checks on the voltage. Remember that a battery that has trouble keeping charged, or doesn’t charge at all is a problem and could be on its way out.
Checking the voltage will also give you an idea if there is any issue with the alternator that needs to be dealt with right away.
It’s important to know that a battery can get damaged any number of ways and it’s always a good idea to watch out for the warning signs.
Physical damage on the battery case such as leaks or cracks in the case is a tell-tale sign that it’s about time for a replacement.
Also remember what was earlier mentioned, to clean out your terminals.
Lastly, always remember to store your batteries in a safe and secure location if they’re outside your car for whatever reason.
By safe and secure location, we mean room temperature in a well-ventilated room. One of the things you want to make sure doesn’t happen is gas released by the battery should not build up in an enclosed space.
If you have plans on storing your battery in a colder temperature, you need to make sure the battery’s fully charged.
These are fairly easy steps to easily maintain a long car battery life, and could save you a trip to the mechanic and at least a thousand pesos or so in labor fees.
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