Top Tips For Car Battery Maintenance

If automobile battery is something that troubles you often, you need to keep a check on this auto part. It’s easy and simple. Car Battery maintenance is essential as this automotive part plays a major role in the smooth functioning of any vehicle. As I always say, a little care and basic knowledge is what is required. Just have a fair idea of the automobile electrical system to keep the car’s battery in the best shape without any hassles. Followthe following car maintenance tips to keep you car’s battery running smoothly.

Tips No. 1 – Battery Needs Change - This is common and known to almost all the car owners. Your car’s battery needs to be changed after a duration of four years. Don’t forget to do that.

Tips No. 2 – Monthly check of the battery’s load test helps you avoid any hassle. Take your car’s battery to your auto mechanic and can load test it. Make sure your car’s battery is able to pass the test. Make sure that it is capable of sufficient charge even at below freezing temperatures.

Tips No. 3 – Just wipe off the battery terminals of any crust. An easy way to do so is to use some baking soda and water. Use a wire brush to clean the crust using this solution.

Tips No. 4 – Always keep the battery cables tightly tied. Make sure the cables are so tight that they do not move.

Tips No. 5 – Keep the battery safe in a tray. Also ensure that battery remains properly in the battery tray so that no damage is caused to the hood.

Tips No. 6 – Excess of cold is not a good condition for the car batteries. Therefore, look for a solution to it. The best way is to opt for an engine or battery heater. This keeps the car’s battery function smoothly. The heater will help in easily starting the battery and would also minimize the power consumed.

Tips No. 7 – Keep a check on when Service is needed – Different cars come with maintenance free battery. Regular check is needed for such automobile batteries. There is a light in maintenance free batteries that goes black when service is required.

Tip No. 8 – For Conventional Car Battery - These batteries come with a plastic cover that can be easily removed to check the water inside. It is important that the water inside the battery reaches the filler necks.

Tip No. 9 – Be Careful While Adding Water – Incase there is less water inside the battery, you may also add distilled water. I guess I should warn you at this moment. You might just harm yourself if you don’t be careful. The battery acid that is highly corrosive might harm your clothes.

Tip No. 10 – During Battery Check – It is important to make sure that you do not keep any kind of open flames near the car battery. Automobile battery contains chemicals that are combustible and hence can be dangerous.

Tip No. 11 – Over Charging Should Be Avoided – This is common and known to everybody that a dead battery can be charged using a battery charger. Improper charging of a battery is something that should be avoided. It might also lead to damage of battery’s as well as car’s parts & components.

These were some of the battery’s maintenance tips that are to be followed in order to keep your car’s battery and electrical system in best condition. The smooth functioning of automobile battery helps you have a tension free long drive. You can try these car parts maintenance (D-I-Y) tips yourself. Have a Happy & Safe Driving!!

Watch the video related to car battery maintenance

When cleaning a car battery, a simple mixture of baking soda and water can help to neutralize the acid buildup on the battery terminals. Find out how to clean a car battery with a toothbrush and a hose by following the instructions ofcar restoration specialists in this free video on car maintenance. Expert: Gary Malec & John Grassi Bio: Gary Malec and John Grassi rebuild cars and boats, do household handyman work, and build computers. Filmmaker: gary malec…

Help answer the question about car battery maintenance

i am going to change my car’ battery. which one should i buy, maintenance free battery (dry battery) or liquid?
i am going to change my car’ battery. which one should i buy, maintenance free battery (dry battery) or one that contains liquid and needs to get maintenance ?

of which company ?

How longer should a car battery last ? if car gets nice tune-ups on time ?

thanks

About Author

I am Fred Clay, a journalist and an automotive industry expert. Automobiles, automotive parts & components and any & everything related to this industry interests me and is my passion. Over the past eight years, i have covered different automotive industry related news and have been writing on the same. As a professional I have reported on myriad topics, my favorite is the automobile industry. I also write for different web portals and websites. Amongst all, my favorite is Automotive Components & Partsthat is an Automotive industry B2B marketplace. This portal – Automotive-online.com provides detailed information on industry overview, news, trends, professional associations, publications, tenders, product catalogs, international trade leads, trade events, worldwide manufacturers & suppliers related to global automotive components & parts industry. I now blog at: Automobile Hotspot

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categories car | admin December 4, 2009

12 Comments to “Top Tips For Car Battery Maintenance”

  1. By kavita k, November 14, 2009 @ 4:47 am

    batteries are not built to last more than 2 or 3 years so dont waste to much time nursing it.a regular ,once a week , run out with the car is enough maintenence .

  2. By ika6667, November 14, 2009 @ 5:32 am

    You should always remove the battery from the vehicle, it is much safer and you also get to clean the whole thing as well as the casing. Also, you should use a wire brush on the terminals and the poles as well. Dry with a clean rag before reinstalling and put a bit of Vaseline on the terminals to prevent corrosion.

  3. By TraumaER, November 14, 2009 @ 5:44 am

    Yeah your battery is clean but what is up with the rest of the engine bay? Looks like it has never been cleaned EVER lol.

  4. By moondreamer721, November 14, 2009 @ 6:05 am

    no thats why they are called maintenance free. once they no longer hold a charge or can be charged then they are replaced.

  5. By Danish Deshmukh, November 14, 2009 @ 6:05 am

    Get maintenance free battery. Interstate batteries are the best, but they also make most of them… Sears, Auto Zone, these are two that I can thank of quickly that Interstate makes and of course the Interstate brand. Battery life has nothing to do with tune-ups, etc. Most if not all have a warranty for so many years, depending on how good of battery you get. Most will only last about that many years.

  6. By ladyboxer, November 14, 2009 @ 11:50 am

    if it was maintenance free there wouldn't be anything on the top to pry off it would be completely sealed

  7. By Joe, November 15, 2009 @ 6:43 am

    replaceing the posative cable isnt all that hard to do but you need to disconect the cables from the battery and then follow the posative cable down to where it is connectted and disconnect it and put the new cable in its place it isnt hard to do but if you aint careful you can bump something else and that may cause something else not to work so heres the deal i am a 16 yr mechanic and i am retired now and i have worked on some camarys in my time and they can be tricky the best bet is to take it to a pro mechanic and have them do it that way it is under warrenty and if theres a problem you can take it back and it wont cost you all that much either ok i hope this helps thanks for reading this ……..

  8. By Tiara, November 15, 2009 @ 11:45 am

    AS A GENERAL RULE—
    Most car batteries are good for from 3-5 years, depending on the quality and the degree of maintenance.
    As for the telltale signs of failure, there aren't many other than the car begins to crank over a little slow. The only other sign is the car won't start in the morning.
    There are signs that the mechanic sees, but you won't notice it because you aren't checking it and probably don't have the equipment.
    As for tires, those are easier to check.
    If you look closely at the tread pattern, at the bottom of the grooves, you will see little raised bars that run across the entire tread. When you can see them clearly, and they are as exposed as the tread, the tires are no longer safe or legal.
    These are the 'safety bars' that are cast into the rubber to identify when they have reached a tread depth less than 2/32".
    You can also tell it is time when you place a penny with Lincoln's head toward the tread. If you can see the top of his head, you have less than 2/32" remaining.
    It is smart to not allow them to get this worn, because this is the absolute minimum tread. It is best to keep at least 4/32" (1/8") tread depth, and then begin to look for sales.
    Replace them with the size recommended by the manufacturer, and replace them in matching pairs left to right.
    Keep them inflated properly (check the owner's manual or the driver's door post) for longer tire wear and safety, not to mention the fuel economy.
    Hope this clears things up

    Good Luck

  9. By strikeagle1, November 15, 2009 @ 7:09 pm

    this is 12v battery.. no harm can be done…
    water resistance is high…current will flow, but very little…
    BTW: when flowing current through water, one terminal will have Heliume and the other terminal will have Oxigen :) you will see bubbles….

  10. By AAGI, November 16, 2009 @ 12:54 am

    Maintenance free means just that. It is sealed and water cannot be added. Typical battery life is usually around 5 years max. You got 8 years out of it. Best to replace it.

  11. By Adam, November 16, 2009 @ 12:52 pm

    does the battery have caps that come off so you can add water? low maint. no caps no maint

  12. By chinky m, November 17, 2009 @ 3:54 pm

    Yes