Your cars battery is going to eventually die at some point, but following these tips you can make sure that you get as much longevity as you can. Vibrations can shorten the lifespan of your cars battery, so it is important to use a certified battery clip at all times to make sure it is held down correctly.
While a battery is a crucial part of a vehicle, it can ultimately affect the performance of the vehicle if other components, like the electric system, have problems. The battery is only one component in a well-functioning vehicle, so be sure to maintain all parts of the vehicle correctly in order to prolong the lifespan of the battery. No matter what temperatures you are driving, taking good care of your cars battery can help it stay running.
You can help keep your battery charged by driving frequently and over a long period of time. You can help keep your battery longer by driving long periods of time, instead of taking lots of short trips.
If you must make a short trip, consider using a battery charger such as NOCO GENIUS1 to help maintain the voltage. Short trips make it difficult for the battery to charge, and eventually, voltage is reduced enough to make it impossible for the battery to assist in starting your vehicle. Avoid taking short trips too frequently: your battery gets a workout each time you start your vehicle, but it is then refilled from the engine as you drive.
If you drive just short distances, your battery cannot recover the amount of energy lost – and if you repeat this daily, your batteries voltage will drop consistently until it is impossible to start your car anymore. The last thing you want is your battery to shake while driving, because it could cause your batteries internal components to break, creating shorts, and shortening your batteries lifespan. If liquid from the vehicle battery is evaporated, the damage may be irreversible, and you will have to buy a new battery.
The battery terminals also will corrode over time, and keeping them free from accumulation is a great way to increase your cars battery lifespan. Over time, you may begin to see salty-looking corrosion form on the terminals of your battery, which is the part of the battery that connects it to the electric system in your vehicle. Corrosion means that it is probably time to get a new battery, but keeping yours clean may extend its life.
Just some simple steps to care for your battery will help it stay charged for longer, so that you get more miles from your battery. Keep your cars battery charged by driving frequently and over a long period of time — and if you do not use your car very frequently, consider investing in a battery charger to help maintain proper voltage. If you are not able to drive your car for extended periods or over a longer distance, invest in a portable battery that will help jump-start your vehicle whenever the battery is dead. Do not let your car sit idle for too long as standard lead-acid batteries naturally lose charge over time.
Every time you start up your car, some of your batteries life is depleted, but it is then recharged by your alternator during your journey. The alternator in your car, contrary to popular belief, is not there to completely charge your dead battery.
Driving just short of it does not allow time for your alternator to completely charge the battery. The best way to keep your battery safe is to get the car out every once in awhile to get some quick driving in it, if it is been sitting around for an extended period of time. If your battery does not have the time to charge in the course of the driving cycle, it will lose its charging capacity early.
The more you pull from your battery at a given time, the more you deplete it over the course of its lifetime. Charging does not mean the battery needs to sit on the charger, as this can actually reduce its lifespan. Starting a vehicle uses up an enormous amount of electrical energy, which is why a charging system has to kick in to refill the batteries.
Since lights depend on batteries, leaving them on while the car is off drains them. Many cars these days are equipped with an automatic turn-off for the lights, but it is always good to check that the option is selected before leaving your vehicle, otherwise, you could return to a dead battery. Turn all lights off as you exit the car. Accidentally leaving headlights and door lights in your vehicle on can easily draw the power directly from the battery. Many systems in todays cars remain on for a while after you switch your ignition off, and poor software can muck that up — perhaps failing to shut down power to one or more systems, and killing your battery in the process.
Using lights, charging devices, and running the AC when the engine is off puts an awful lot of stress on the cars battery. Various things such as radio, Bluetooth, and charging phones and other mobile devices when your engine is not running take up significant amounts of your batteries charge. Every time you use any electronics in your vehicle, like the radio, the air conditioner, wipers, and so on, you are drawing a portion of power from the battery. Running lights, radios, and other electronics while your car is idling puts an unnecessary strain on your battery, which will eventually harm the battery.
It is so important not just to keep, but also make sure that the car has a working, charged battery. The battery is critical for so many basic functions in your vehicle, it is important that you know when you should change it, and how you can keep yours going for longer. Car batteries do not last forever and they need to be replaced at some point, but these are the steps that you can take to help prolong your car battery lifespan.
