Tips For Keeping Your Car Battery Healthy
Ever go to your car and have trouble starting the engine? Chances are, there’s something wrong with your battery. To avoid stressful and inconvenient situations like this, as well as to save yourself as much money as possible, it’s vital to ensure that your car battery is being properly maintained. Here are a few tips to help keep your car battery healthy and hopefully help it last a long time.
Drive Your Car Every Two Weeks
It’s very important to make sure that you drive your vehicle once in a while. Unfortunately, having to stay home more often due to quarantine isn’t helping. If you don’t get out much, make sure to drive your car at least once every two weeks to help it recharge your battery. Of course, short drives won’t help as they don’t provide enough time for your battery to charge. It’s recommended that you drive it for at least 15 minutes.
Check for Corrosion
If you haven’t looked at your battery in a while, check for corrosion. Corrosion is the result of gases being released from inside the battery. While it’s normal for corrosion to occur, letting too much corrosion build up can create blockages in the electric current. If you notice any flaky white or blue substances on your battery terminals, you can clean this corrosion right at home. Learn how to do so safely here.
Always Turn Off Electronics When the Engine is Off
Whether you are leaving your vehicle or have turned off your engine while waiting for someone, you should always turn off electronics when the engine is off. Of course, we don’t mean power down your phone. Rather, the electronics you should be concerned about are the ones powered by your car battery, such as the radio, air conditioning unit, interior lights, and headlights. Leaving any of these on for too long can drain your battery and may lead to trouble starting your car back up.
Secure Your Battery
Your battery shouldn’t move while the vehicle is in motion. Sometimes, driving over bumps or running over something can cause things like your battery to move out of position. Leaving a battery insecure can cause it to vibrate, potentially leading to internal damage or short circuits. Ensure it is in its proper place and secure your battery if needed.
Even with the proper care, car batteries don’t last forever. Drivers can expect to replace their car batteries every 3 to 5 years. If you suspect your battery is failing, get it tested to see if you need to get a replacement.
