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Your car's battery is an essential item, and if you are a car owner who wants to make that battery last as long as possible, you need to be very aware of what you're putting it through. Even the best battery will have issues if it encounters certain situations. Here's what you need to know and how you can help your battery survive for a longer time.
Extreme Heat and Cold
Exposing your car to extreme heat and cold can kill the battery prematurely. Very cold temperatures can prevent the battery from holding a charge by messing with the electricity-generating chemical reactions inside the battery. Consumer Affairs notes that very hot temperatures make any liquid inside the battery evaporate, leading to internal battery damage when you try to operate the car.
Obviously, you can't change the weather; if you live in northern Minnesota in winter or southern Arizona in summer, you have to deal with what you have. But you can keep your car in a climate-controlled garage, if you have one, or park it in the shade or under a carport. You can cover the car, too, to help protect it from high or low temperatures.
Radio and Gadget Use
It's not unusual to listen to the radio when you drive. But be very careful about how much you use the radio when you are not driving, but instead just sitting in your car. For example, if you sit in your car during your lunch break every day and listen to the radio (with the engine otherwise off), you are contributing to battery drain. You might not realize it, though, given the engine and everything else but the radio and maybe some dashboard lights are off. Instead, bring a personal MP3 or CD player with you and listen to that. It might seem like an inconvenience, but it's much easier to recharge an MP3 player.
Too Much Dirt
Sometimes a lot of dirt gathers at the top of the battery -- the dirt can blow in under the hood on windy days or when you're driving. The dirt can help create energy leaks that drain the battery by combining with battery acid. The acid and dirt can conduct electricity between the battery terminals, creating a drain on the battery. Keep the top of the battery clean to prevent this
You can take your car to a repair shop or battery specialist and have the part tested to see if it's still good. Do this occasionally so that you can catch problems with the battery before the problems catch you when you need to start your car. For more information, talk to a professional like Auto Electric Sales & Service.
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