Don't wait until your car battery dies, use these tips to
make sure your car battery is running for a long time before having to replace
it.
-Know your car battery. Know when it was made and how long
it should last. Five years is a rough estimate, but many factors can shorten
this time. Keep this in mind if you start to see signs of trouble, such as
starting problems, or dim lights. If it is relatively new, maybe it simply
needs a charge; but if it's getting close to the expiration date, you may need
a car battery replacement fairly soon.
-Turn your lights off! The single most common cause of
premature battery depletion is lights left on overnight. Some newer cars have
auto-off lights, but a lot of vehicles still don't. Get in the habit of
checking your lights (headlights and dome light) whenever you turn off your
car.
-Use accessories sparingly when the engine is off.
Alternators keep the battery charging when the motor is running, but if it's
off, cabin accessories can deplete your power in short order. Limit the amount
of time you spend using powered accessories with the engine off, such as
laptops, music, or movies playing. An armed security system is another constant
drain. Arm the system in the shopping mall parking lot, but it's probably not
necessary in your own garage.
-Monitor performance. The most noticeable sign of battery
problems is slow "cranking" when you start your car, wondering if
it's going to start at all. This doesn't necessarily mean you need a car
battery replacement. You should be able to recharge it. But don't leave your
battery in a depleted state for more than a few days. They must constantly be
kept near full charge to avoid a condition called "sulfated plates".
So as soon as your car starts to sounds sluggish when starting, you can either
take about a 30-minute drive, or take it to an auto shop to have the battery
tested and recharged. Any further problems after that could indicate a need for
a car battery replacement.
-Disconnect the battery when parked long-term. If you know
you won't be using your car for an extended period of time, give your battery a
rest too. A small amount of current continues to flow even if the security
system isn't armed. The old-school approach means disconnecting the negative
cable (typically marked by a big minus sign). However, this has the undesirable
side-effect of wiping out all of your electronic settings. A better idea, if
affordable, is to pick up an automatic charger which will maintain the charge and
keep all your settings too.
May your batteries life live longer with these tips!
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