Extend Your Car Battery Life

How to Extend Your Car Battery Life


Five Useful Tips to Extend Your Car Battery Life

The car battery provides the power needed to start your car and run its systems. This is why battery care is a crucial part of car maintenance. Here are some tips to keep your car battery in good working order.

1. Use Your Car Regularly

Car batteries can become depleted if a car is left unused for an extended period. This inactivity leads to chemical reactions that cause corrosion and degradation over time. To avoid these issues, technicians recommend driving your car or starting the engine at least once a week.

2. Ensure Your Battery is Securely Fastened

Make sure your car battery is securely fastened.Apoorly secured battery can reduce its lifespan and may cause terminal connections to loosen. Vibration from driving can damage batteries that are not firmly attached to their mounting trays or brackets, leading to damage to the battery cells.

Additionally, a loose cable can create significant resistance to current flow between the battery terminals, potentially causing electrical issues if the battery is overworked.

3. Keep Your Battery Clean

To keep corrosion and buildup at bay, clean the battery terminals and cables on a regular basis. Your battery's ability to hold and transfer a charge may degrade because of this buildup. You can have trouble starting your automobile or using electrical gadgets if this is not addressed.

Just by keeping the terminals and wires clean, you can prevent battery troubles and prolong its life. Use a wire brush or an instrument made for this exact task. It is important to detach the negative cable followed by the positive cable before cleaning. Reattach the cables after cleaning the terminals.

4. Disconnect Car Accessories and Turn Them Off

Several accessories, such as the vehicle's starter, draw power from the battery. Before starting your vehicle, be sure to unplug any electrical devices like seat warmers, chargers, and air conditioning units.

To prevent your battery from dying, avoid parasitic drains. Common causes of parasitic drain include electronic components that continue to use power even when the vehicle is off.

Before leaving your car parked overnight, it’s important to ensure all accessories are unplugged and turned off.

5. Inspect Your Battery Regularly

Regularly check your car battery to ensure it is in good condition. A professional mechanic can detect wear and tear through a thorough battery examination. They can check the casing and terminals for cracks, corrosion, and other issues.

If you would like expert service for your batteries, contact Scott Family of Dealerships. We have tools that can measure battery capacity. Depending on the results, you may need to get a new battery.

It is recommended to have your car batteries serviced at least once a year. However, you should do this more frequently if you notice warning signs like dim lights or slow cranking. Professional battery servicing can significantly extend the life of your car's battery.

Schedule Battery Services at Scott Family of Dealerships

Have your battery checked at Scott Family of Dealerships in Allentown, PA, to ensure it’s in good shape. Maintaining your battery is as simple as changing the oil and rotating the tires. When you're ready to purchase a new battery, consult our parts department to ensure you get a reliable replacement.

If you need help testing your battery or finding a new one, we are here to assist you. Call us today to book an appointment.