A happy battery

A dead car battery is one of the most common causes of automotive breakdowns.  Although considered a consumable, you can stretch the life of your car's battery to 24-36 months by simply taking care of it and knowing how to keep it fully charged all the time.

Here are some tips on how to extend your car battery’s life.

1) Short trips can reduce the life span of car batteries.  Engine starters and other electrical loads shorten battery life.  Many starting cycles coupled with short run times can leave the battery below the ideal charged specification for most of its shortened life. When parking, turn off all of the car's accessories first and let the engine idle for at least 2 minutes before turning it off. This way, the battery will have time to charge up.

2) Low contact battery clamps will cause periodic discharging and eventually damage battery internals. Make sure all clamps are clean and tightened to the battery contacts. A little amount of WD40 will help in keeping the clamps free from corrosion.  Maintainance batteries need constant checking for correct levels of charging fluids. Have it checked once every two weeks in your preferred gas station.

3) Another cause for a short lived battery life would be the exposure to extreme temperature. Too much heat can destroy the plates and internal parts of the battery leading to charging failure. Some of the batteries are specially built for tropical weather. They call these products “tropicalized” batteries.

4) A battery on standby will lose its charge and leave it below its healthy power level. Standby vehicles should be “exercised” every other day, letting the engine idle for at least 10 minutes. This way, the battery will have the chance to cycle and recharge.

5) Wrong battery size can cause premature battery death. Car’s have specific battery specifications which are stated in the car’s manual. It is important to refer to the manual in replacing car battery to avoid damage. For example, a small battery installed on a Sports Utility Vehicle with a high electrical load requirement will discharge the battery, eventually damaging it.

6) Busted charging units (alternators) that overcharge or   do not charge the battery properly will eventually damage the battery plates leading to battery failure. Have your friendly mechanic check the battery charging at least once a month. (LRS)