Your Car Battery: Maintenance Tips To Prolong Its Lifespan
Although your car battery is designed to serve you for an extended period of time, this does not mean that it does not have an expiry date. This limit to the lifespan of your battery is referred to as its calendar life and will vary from one type of battery to another. In addition to this, the calendar life of your battery will also depend on the number of times that it is charged and discharged when in use. It should be noted that most people will not have their car battery reach the end of its calendar life and instead will find themselves replacing it before its due date. This is largely caused by poor maintenance of te battery and neglect in caring for it. Below are some maintenance tips that you could use to prolong the lifespan of your car battery.
Inspect the terminals for dirt and corrosion
One of the main issues that would decrease your battery's calendar life is the accumulation of dirt and development of corrosion. When the battery terminal start rusting, they become incapable of providing a secure connection between the vehicle and the battery. It is prudent to carry out regular inspection of these terminals so that an auto mechanic can address any signs of corrosion before they become extensive.
Accumulation of dirt will also impede on the battery's performance, as it will not be able to efficiently transfer power through the terminals. It is essential to regularly clean out the terminals using a damp rage to keep their surfaces clear of residue. Take note to allow the terminals to completely dry out as leaving moisture on them would make them susceptible to developing rust. Once cleaned, lubricate the terminals to reduce the risk of corrosion.
Avoid operating car electronics before switching the ignition on
When you turn on the ignition, the vehicle's alternator will generate electricity that function to charge the battery since its voltage will have dropped while the car was not in use. A mistake some people make is simply using the various electronics in their car first without turning on the ignition. When you do this, you will solely be relying on the vehicle's battery for power. This will significantly drain your battery power and could be severely detrimental to the battery in the long-term.
For example, if you would like to listen to some music from your car while parked, it would be better off to first turn on the ignition. This will ensure that when you are using the power for the electronics, the battery will have been sufficiently recharged. Nevertheless, keep this to a minimum as regular use of your battery solely for the car accessories will eventually lead to battery damage.
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