Without the battery, your car’s electrical system is dead in the water. But there are some things that you can do to help your battery to last as long as possible. Here’s some information from Southcross Auto Service that can help.
Take Care to Avoid Leaving Lights On
It’s so easy to forget your headlights and to leave them on. And if your car doesn’t have auto-shutoff functioning that takes care of that for you, your battery might well be dead by the time you come back to the car. But it’s equally easy to do something like accidentally pop the trunk lid and run down the battery that way. Getting in the habit of making sure all lights are off, anywhere in the car, can help you keep your battery going.
Start Your Car Regularly and Let it Run
How often do you drive your car? Lots of people don’t drive every day or even every week. And while your car sits, it’s losing a tiny bit of battery power every single day. Letting your car sit for two or three weeks can cause the battery to drain down too far. When you do start your car, let it run for 15 to 20 minutes. That’s about how long it takes for the alternator to send a full charge back to the battery. Running a quick errand can take care of that requirement.
Service Your Car Regularly
Follow the service schedule laid out in your car’s owner’s manual. This one step helps to ensure that your car is in front of an experienced technician who can spot trouble. Engine issues and problems in other systems can put an extra load on the battery that can wear it down faster. Regular service ensures that you’re not caught off guard.
Look at the Battery Every Few Weeks
There’s a lot to be said for visually inspecting your car’s battery every so often. When you get familiar with how your car’s battery is supposed to look, it’s easier to spot differences as they happen. Things like corrosion on the battery posts, cracks in the battery case, and anything that doesn’t look or smell right is cause for concern.
Avoiding battery care is no way to ensure that the battery lasts for as long as it should. Contact Southcross Auto Service in Savage, MN today and we’ll be happy to inspect and test your battery for you.
