Car Batteries
Mercedes Porsche Mechanic | Midtown Auto Repair | Services | Sacramento
P. 916.382.7700
Longtime car owners and drivers all know that there is nothing worse than being stuck with a dead battery. Waking up, getting into your car, ready to go to work and boom…your car will not start. One of the worst feelings in the world as a dead car battery was the last thing on your mind. Do not be too hard on yourself as we have all been there. Unfortunately, just like the battery in your cell phone or laptop, lead-acid batteries have a limited life span and will eventually lose their ability to hold a charge to start your car. There is simply no way to avoid it. However, there are ways to extend the life of your car battery and today we are going to go over a few of them.
The most obvious way to extend the life of your car battery is to minimize the power used while the car engine is off. Car batteries are happiest when they are kept close to a 100% charge. That means that keeping headlights and interior lights on while the engine is running is no big deal. Just be sure to turn them off when you exit and leave your vehicle.
Many people do not know this but keeping your battery clean can extend the life of your car battery. A dirty battery can discharge across the grime on top of the casing and this will create a mild short circuit which will eventually flatten the battery. Battery terminals will corrode over time and keeping them clean from buildup is one of the best ways to extend the life of your car battery.
Lastly, try to avoid driving for short trips often. Just like all of the other components under your hood, your battery is given a workout every time you start your car but is then recharged by the engine during the journey. So, if you are only driving a short distance it will be impossible for the battery to regain the amount of power lost. If you do this often, the battery voltage will reduce steadily until your battery can no longer start the car.
A dead or flattened car battery is unavoidable but there are ways to extend its life. Use these tips above and your car battery will last that much longer.