5WaystoExtendtheLifeofYour CarBattery
NAPACanada
Updated:Mar.22,2021
Mostcarbatterieswilllastthreetofiveyears,butmultiplefactorscanreducetheir lifespan.Herearefivewaystoboostyourcarbattery’slongevity.
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PHOTO:SHUTTERSTOCK
Cleanthebatteryterminals
Likemostcarparts,yourcarbatteryrequiresmaintenanceifyouwantittolast.Check thebatteryandconnectionsperiodicallytomakesurethattheconnectionsaresecure andfreeofdirtandgrime.Batteriesroutinelydevelopapowderysubstancewherethe cablesmeettheterminals.Toremoveit,startbydisconnectingthecables.Then,ina smallcontainer,mixtwotablespoonsofbakingsodawithanequalamountofwaterand blendtoformapaste.(Herearemoregreatbakingsodahacks.)Useatoothbrushto applythepastetoeachterminal,followedbyawirebrushtoremovetheresidue. Finally,wipetheterminalsdrywithacleantowelbeforereconnectingthem.Thereare
alsospecialcorrosioncleanersprays,terminalprotectionsprays,andbattery terminalcleaningtoolsyoucanpurchasetomakethisprocesseasier.Ifthey’retoofar gone,followthesestep-by-stepinstructionsforreplacingcorrodedbatteryterminals
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Driveregularlyandavoidshorttrips
Ifyourcarstaysparkedfordaysonendoryouuseitonlyforshorttrips,thecarbattery won’thavesufficienttimetorecharge.Takeextendedtripsonaregularbasistohelpthe batteryregainafullcharge.(Thesetop10Canadianroadtripsareagreatplaceto findsomeinspiration!)Ifyouknowyourvehiclewillhaveextendedperiodsofinfrequent use,considerchoosinganabsorbedglassmat(AGM)battery,whichisbetterequipped towithstandparasiticloads.
Findoutmorethingsthatcanhappentoyourcarwhenyoudon’tdriveit
Bemindfulof
Betweenlong,hotsummersandextremelycoldwinters,nothingtakesmoreofatollon acarbatterythanextremetemperatures.Don’tforgettotestyourbatteryinevery season—notjustwhenitgetscold.
Followthistroubleshootingguidethenexttimeyourcarwon’tstart.
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Keepallaccessoriesoffwhenstartingthe engine
Accessoriessuchasclimatecontrol,seatwarmers,heatedsteeringwheels,lights,and audio,communicationsandnavigationsystemsarealladrainonyourcar’sbattery Whenstartingyourvehicle,particularlyincoldweather,makesurethatallaccessories areoff.Ifyoucancontrolyourcarremotely,ensuretheaccessoriesareoffbefore startingit.
Findoutmoresurprisingreasonsyourbatterykeepslosingitscharge
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Testyourbatteryregularly
Testingyourcar’sbatterycansignificantlyreduceyourchancesofgettingstrandedwith nopower Tocheckyourbattery,connectittoamultimeterwhileyourcarisoff.Hookup thered(positive)leadtothebattery’spositiveterminal,thentheblack(negative)leadto thenegativeterminal.TurnthemetertotheDCvoltsettingandreadtheresults.Ifyour batteryreadsatleast12.4volts,itissufficientlychargedandshouldcontinuetoholda charge.Ifthereadingisbelow12.4volts,thebatterymaybeabletoacceptarecharge. Ifnot,replacethebatteryimmediately.Whileamultimeterwillgiveyouaquick indicationofyourbattery’scondition,itisnotasreliableastheequipmentata professionalgarageorservicecentre.Ifyouhaveanyconcernsaboutthereliabilityof yourbatteryorifitismorethanthreeyearsold,youshouldconsultaprofessionalto haveittested.Extendingthelifeofyourcarbatterycomesdowntopropercare. Checkingitregularlyisallittakestopreventanuntimelybreakdown.