Helping Your Car Battery Last Longer

In order for your automobile to run properly, the battery must be running properly

. If it isn't up to peak efficiency the car may be a real headache to start. If the battery is in poor condition, the car may not even start at all. Maintaining a car battery will enable it to last for two to five years.

Keep it out of extreme temperatures- If you are planning to leaving your car in cold weather for a long time, remove your battery and keep it some where warm. The cold weather can freeze the chemicals in the battery causing major damage to it. So just remove it if you are going to hibernate for the winter.

Remember to turn out the lights - This is the easiest way to save your battery but the most common reason it dies. Leaving your lights on in the car kills your car's battery. Do a quick check when you leave the car. Make sure you turn your headlights off. If you turn on your interior light, make sure you turn it back off. And also make sure your doors and trunk are closed. If left open, they may turn lights on you might not even notice and you will return to a dead car. You should also watch how many electronics you have hooked up to your car and eating up your battery. Turn off anything your aren't using to save the life of your battery.

Dab the paste on the battery terminals (the posts where the cables attach to the battery) thickly. This will help to remove the rust and crud that forms around the posts. Leave the paste on for about 45 minutes. Clean all around the posts with your toothbrush and then wipe the paste off completely with a damp rag. Dry the battery posts off well.

Try a can of cola for cleaning terminals. If you don't have baking soda or would like to try this solution which is much less messy, just pour a whole can of cola over both battery posts. Cola has phosphoric acid which dissolves rust quite nicely. It will also take off any dirt or grease. The cola will bubble and as soon as it stops you can clean the posts with a damp rag. Make sure to wipe them completely dry afterward.

Transfer the corrosion to something else to keep the battery posts clean. Tape a copper penny to the top of the batterynot on the posts themselves. Over time the copper will turn color and become corroded but your battery posts will be clean. Spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly over each battery terminal before you attach battery cables to it. This will also prevent corrosion on the battery posts.

There are several strategies you can use to extend the life of your car battery and avoid a dead battery crisis. Regular maintenance of your automotive battery is a must, especially in extreme weather conditions. Remember over heating is bad. Check the electrolyte level in the battery. One of the easiest cleaning tips, is to make sure the terminals are clean. You can buy an cheap terminal brush and scrub off any corrosion on the battery terminals and cables. Sometimes a dead battery is nothing more than corroded terminals. Once they are clean, your car will crank right up. Car batteries also need to be recharged after deep cycle discharges and jump starts.

By taking these simple suggestions, you can extend the life of your battery and hopefully avoid getting caught with a car that won't start.

by: judy

POST COMMENT

The Characteristics Of Led Lamps Apple Computer 's! Yuan Gu Original T Series Of Mobile Hard Disk Three Tiens Subvert What The Unique Copy How To Install Your Own Cable Ladders How To Be A Good Bridesmaid The Huge Selection Of Aspects Of Cz Jewelry Choose From The Four Styles Of Formal Dresses According To Your Figures Sleep Help Anyone? Making An Affordable Scrapbook Out Of Plastic Bags Ways To Make Your Own Virtual Prom Dress How To Rebuild Your Own Lithium-ion Drill Battery Increase Your Teaching Success With A Masters Of Arts In Teaching Eye Catching Exhibition Stands - Making Full Use Of Available Space