Your car’s battery plays a key part in your vehicle’s performance and safety. Did you know there are several things you can do to maximize and extend your battery’s life and avoid car trouble? Let’s take a closer look at some helpful car maintenance advice.

FOLLOW THESE NINE MAINTENANCE STEPS TO MAXIMIZE THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR CAR BATTERY.

  1. Have your car serviced regularly. Regular vehicle maintenance is important. When your technician inspects your vehicle also have them check your battery and perform a load test. Like we mentioned previously, both under and over-charging shortens your vehicle’s battery life and cause damage and will void its warranty.
  2. Know what type of battery you have. Ask your mechanic or consult your owner’s manual if you’re not sure. Most cars are sold with sealed, maintenance-free batteries. However, some batteries aren’t maintenance-free and come with a plastic cover that can be removed to check the water level. If it needs water, just fill it with distilled water until the water level reaches the filler necks. Avoid coming into contact with the water because it is corrosive and toxic.
  3. Have your car serviced regularly.Regular vehicle maintenance is important. When your technician inspects your vehicle also have them check your battery by performing a load test. Like we mentioned earlier, both under and over-charging shortens your vehicle’s battery life and will void its warranty.
  4. Make sure the cables are secure. Never drive your vehicle with loose battery cables inspect them because road and engine vibrations can loosen them over time. The easiest way to remember to inspect them is to do this every time you check your windshield wipers.
  5. Keep the car battery case clean. Keep your battery connectors, cables and terminals free of dirt or corrosion. Otherwise, dirt and gunk may weaken your battery. Wear eye protection first, then you can clean it by wiping off the crud from your battery terminals. A classic solution of baking soda and water should do the trick, just scrub it clean with a wire brush. The easiest way to avoid this situation is to just have your mechanic check the battery for corrosion each time you go in for service.
  6. Secure your car battery. Check that your battery is secure at all times, as vibrations can damage the battery plates. Inspect battery terminals regularly; loose connections can cause breakdowns. Also, make sure you keep the battery cover on if your vehicle has one.
  7. Know your limits. Do you know how to jump-start a car battery? Even if you do, always be careful if you have to jump-start your battery. Modern vehicles have a lot of sensitive parts and electronics. Don’t try to jump-start your car if you’re not sure what you’re doing, call a professional.
  8. Know it’s age. Just keep an eye on how long your battery has been in the vehicle. Batteries have a limited life-span, once your battery’s age approaches three years, it’s time to keep a close eye your dash’s check battery warning light and think about getting a replacement to avoid getting stalled on the side of the road when it eventually fails.
  9. Avoid parking in sub freezing temperatures. This isn’t really a problem for Sugar Land drivers, however you should be aware that using a battery or engine heater can make your car easier to start in cold climates.
  10. Drive your vehicle regularly. Parking your car for extended periods of time will affect its charge. This is especially important with today’s vehicles because they have a lot of accessories and sensors that can continue run and drain your battery. So, help your battery by also turning off your accessories.

These are just some tips to help you extend the life of your battery because it should be a part of regular auto maintenance and a strong battery is necessary for smooth-running vehicle.