Every once in a while, you may end up in a situation in which your car has to sit idle for a period of time. That can cause problems for your car’s battery, however, if you’re not prepared. Southcross Auto Service has some advice that can help.
Age of the Battery Makes a Difference
Older batteries are more vulnerable in general to issues. If you already know that your car’s battery is four or five years old, then it’s much more likely to die if you let the car sit for a few weeks or even months. Newer batteries may be able to handle sitting for a lengthy period of time, but there are other variables at play besides just the age of the battery.
Temperature Makes a Difference, Too
Car batteries tend to not do well with extremes in temperature. So, if the weather is too cold or too hot, that’s going to drain the battery. Add in age or something else that might have weakened the battery, and you’re definitely going to have problems when you try to start the car up again. When you know that temperatures are going to hit one extreme or the other, take more precautions to protect the battery.
Keep Track of What’s Going on with the Battery
You can’t just look at your battery and tell how it’s doing like you can with other parts of the car, like the tires. That is why keeping up with battery and alternator service recommendations is so important. Get the battery tested a couple of times a year to make sure you know what’s going on with the charge. If the battery does seem to be having trouble, it’s way better to find out through testing than because the car won’t start.
Prep the Car Properly if You Know it Will Sit
The best thing you can do once you realize that the car is going to sit for a while is to make sure you prepare everything you can, including the battery. In terms of the battery itself, disconnect the battery and put a note in your calendar to charge it fully every quarter. Another idea is to connect the battery to something called a battery tender or a trickle charger. That is going to help keep the battery charged without overcharging it.
Need some help with your car’s battery after it’s been sitting for a little while? Give us a call today at Southcross Auto Service in Savage, MN. We can take a closer look at what’s going on with the battery, the electrical system, and anything else that your car needs.
