Extending your car’s battery life and looking after your electrical system is crucial to keeping your vehicle on the road and avoiding breakdowns.
With petrol prices reaching all-time highs and many of us working from home or not being able to drive much in the last few years, your car’s battery life may have taken a bit of a hit so there are things you can do to help it get back to health.
Avoiding a flat battery and extending your car’s battery life
Lights: Interior and exterior lights being left on are the enemies of your car’s battery life. While many new cars have systems that turn these off when the car is locked, there can be moments – in the roof lighting in particular – where someone may have been reading and left it on or your child played with the switch. When you park your car, try to put it in a position where you have to look at it to lock it, or your headlights shine on the wall of your garage to remind you to turn them off.
Driving more for longer: Starting your car and just doing a quick trip to the shops and back won’t be enough to keep your battery charged over time. You need to take long drives more often. About an hour a week is usually recommended. Try to avoid stopping and starting in traffic and head out of urban areas to get a bit of speed up on a motorway. If you find you don’t drive your car often enough, you can buy a battery charger which helps in avoiding a flat battery because it attaches to your terminals and charges your battery overnight.
Cleaning your terminals: Your car’s battery life can be extended by keeping the terminals clean. If they are corroded or overly dirty they may not be charging the battery effectively. If you are confident to clean them yourself, that can be done by removing the negative (black) terminal from the battery post first, then by removing the positive (red). This process is important to avoid shock. You are playing with electricity here! If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, ask your mechanic to as part of your next Newcastle battery service. Once the terminals are removed, scrub them with a wire brush and water. If that doesn’t remove the corrosion, try sprinkling a bit of baking soda over the terminals and pouring on a little water to create a chemical reaction. Put the terminals back on the car in reverse order. So the positive terminal goes on and is tightened first, then the negative.
Keep your car healthy: Regular servicing is critical to the roadworthiness of your car. In addition to logbook services, ask your mechanic to check your battery. Poor engine condition can add strain on your electrical system and affect your car’s battery life.
For all your battery needs in the Hunter, call Auto Service Newcastle today on (02) 4969 3166.