The car battery is the heart of the vehicle, at least that is if we talk about the electric system of the vehicle so it is very important to take care of it. In this article we want to give you some tips to take care of your car battery.
Take into account that the life of a battery is around 3 years, so if your battery is above that you should check if it is necessary to change it but if it is less than 2 years old and already has many failures, it may be because the driver wasn’t careful enough.
Remember that for a thorough inspection and correction of your car components you can visit us. Here at JB Euro Service we will help you keep your car ready for any trip you are planning.
- Step on the clutch when starting
One of the customs that damages the car the most is not to step on the clutch when starting the car. Remember that the clutch moves the gears to an optimal point to make a speed change so if you do not press it before starting the car, the engine is required to make greater effort to move the gears.
- Do not force it when starting the engine
It has all happened to us that the car does not want to start but the last thing we have to do is turn the key constantly (or the power button) without leaving a minute between each attempt.
Forcing the start of the car requires unnecessary battery consumption in addition to engine wear. It is best to wait at least half a minute between each attempt.
It should be noted that if this happens constantly to your car, you will most likely have a breakdown and it will be better to take it to a workshop for review.
- Very short trips
Going out to the store or just driving for less than 10 minutes erodes the battery life. This happens because it takes a few minutes for the alternator to recharge the battery, if there is not enough time, the battery will be discharged every time.
- Disconnect everything before turning off the car
This is a tip to extend the life of your battery. When you start the car, all components that use electricity and are on, will have a battery consumption so you should make a greater effort. To avoid this, before turning off the car, we must try to turn off all electrical systems as well as disconnect any charger or cable that is in the current of our vehicle.
- Keep everything off
A very similar advice to the previous one, is to keep everything off when we stop the car. This includes the radio, headlights and internal lights to avoid unnecessary consumption. Luckily some modern vehicles have alerts about the electric devices on. If this is not the case with your vehicle you should pay attention not to leave them on.
- Take care of the low temperatures
The care of your car in low temperatures is very important and more if we talk about the battery because it can wear it more.
If the temperature in your locality is lower than 5 ° C, evaluate the possibility of looking for an inn or a parking lot. The wear of the car in the cold not only includes the battery but also the mirrors, oils, gaskets and tires.
- Extra electrical equipment
If you decide to install extra sound or video equipment in your car, make sure it is compatible with your vehicle as some may consume too much energy.
It is also important that you have a professional for the installation because if you do not do it well a discharge can damage the battery.
Consider installing a piece of higher power if you decide to install a larger capacity electrical system.
- Clean joints
The battery connections may have rust or corrosion over time. It is important to clean it to take advantage of all the battery power. In the same way, verify that all joints and cables are not stripped or worn.
- Leaving the car stopped for a long time
One of the consequences of leaving the car for a long time is that the battery is discharged, especially when it is an old vehicle.
It is advisable to start the car at least once every 20 days and drive for 20 or 30 kilometers to avoid wear of the parts.
- Disconnecting the battery
Finally, if you leave your car for a long time stopped it will be best to disconnect the battery to prevent it from discharging or suffering another damage.
Before disconnecting it, make sure you know how to do it, as it is not as simple as it sounds.
Depending on your battery – because there are some that no longer require it – you should take care of the liquid level of it, if it is really low just fill it with special liquid that you can find in a parts distributor. Be sure not to overfill it to avoid getting out of the car movement. Note that the connectors are clean and free of sulfate, as it corrodes the metal and prevents the flow of electric current.
If it is dirty, you should clean the poles with a brush and a special cleaner – or you can make one by mixing baking soda with water. To start cleaning you must directly empty the liquid in the connectors and edges, allow a few minutes for the solution to work and then with the brush, carve slightly to remove what is left of the sulfate. In the end, just remove the remaining dirt with water or a damp cloth.
If you want to prevent sulfate from forming again, there are several sprays on the market that help protect against corrosion.
Always check that the battery connections are tight and that the base or harness holds it perfectly.
If you can check the voltage that the battery is giving – a mechanic can help you or the battery distributors can also give you a hand – with this you will know if you need to change it or it is providing the electric current necessary for the operation of your vehicle.
Remember to contact the experts, JB Euro Auto Service to provide you with top maintenance services and keep your car running at full potential.