5 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Car Battery!

Even with all the advancements in technology in vehicles, we still depend on old-fashioned lead-acid car batteries for accessory power. Rather than wait for that mysterious black box to die at an inconvenient moment, there are some common steps that drivers can take to care for their car battery and help them reach their expected lifetime.

5 Tips to prevent a premature Car Battery Replacement:

1. Know your car battery. Know when it was made and how long it should last. Five years is a rough estimate, but many factors can shorten this time. Keep this in mind if you start to see signs of trouble, such as starting problems, or dim lights. If it is relatively new, maybe it simply needs a charge; but if it's getting close to the expiration date, you may need a car battery replacement fairly soon.
2. Turn your lights off! The single most common cause of premature battery depletion is lights left on overnight. Some newer cars have auto-off lights, but a lot of vehicles still don't. Get in the habit of checking your lights (headlights and dome light) whenever you turn off your car.
3. Use accessories sparingly when the engine is off. Alternators keep the battery charging when the motor is running, but if it's off, cabin accessories can deplete your power in short order. Limit the amount of time you spend using powered accessories with the engine off, such as laptops, music, or movies playing. An armed security system is another constant drain. Arm the system in the shopping mall parking lot, but it's probably not necessary in your own garage.
4. Monitor performance. The most noticeable sign of battery problems is slow "cranking" when you start your car, wondering if it's going to start at all. This doesn't necessarily mean you need a car battery replacement. You should be able to recharge it. But don't leave your battery in a depleted state for more than a few days. They must constantly be kept near full charge to avoid a condition called "sulfated plates". So as soon as your car starts to sound sluggish when starting, you can either take about a 30-minute drive or take it to an auto shop to have the battery tested and recharged. Any further problems after that could indicate a need for a car battery replacement.
5.  Disconnect the battery when parked long-term. If you know you won't be using your car for an extended period of time, give your battery a rest too. A small amount of current continues to flow even if the security system isn't armed. The old-school approach means disconnecting the negative cable (typically marked by a big minus sign). However, this has the undesirable side-effect of wiping out all of your electronic settings. A better idea, if affordable, is to pick up an automatic charger that will maintain the charge and keep all your settings too.

Got questions about a car battery replacement? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Cannon Auto Repair for more information about car battery and to schedule an appointment. Our automotive repair shop serves vehicle owners in Cannon Falls, MN, and the surrounding areas.