Table of Contents
A Car battery is an important part of any car that plays an important role in the overall operation of the vehicle. This is why you need to consider taking care of your car battery in the appropriate way to keep it healthy. In general, it is not easy to know if there is a problem with your car battery. On the other hand, it is crucial to diagnose the battery problem to ensure that the battery is in good condition.
In general, car batteries have a 40% to 80% charge when you buy them. After installing the battery in the car, the battery will start to charge whenever you drive the car. But you can also charge the battery in a trickle charger and use it once it is fully charged. You should always try to maintain your car battery in the proper way so that it will be in good condition.
In order to keep your new car battery healthy, you need to charge and maintain it in the right way. This article will discuss how you should take care of a car battery.
Access Now: Dead Simple Trick To Bring Any Battery Back To Life
Usual Lifespan of a Car Battery
As mentioned above, a car battery plays a significant role in performing all the functionalities of a car. It helps operate the electronics in the car properly. By taking care of a battery in the proper way, you can use it effectively for up to 5 to 7 years. Usually, the battery life decreases due to multiple charges and discharge cycles.
Moreover, if you use any electronics items in your car when the engine is off, then it can drain the battery. But if the engine is on, then the battery will maintain the charge. Using electronics in the car when the engine is off is dangerous for the battery. This is why you need to turn off the interior lights and headlights when the engine is off. Also, ensure that you don’t keep your mobile phone or GPS system plugged into your car’s charger when the engine is off.
Generally, there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your car battery is in proper working condition. The first thing that you need to do is to clean the battery regularly and keep the fluid levels maintained inside the battery. You should also drive your car and unplug the unused electronics items in order to maintain the charge. The following things will guide you to maintain your car battery effectively.
1. Turn On the Car Engine Regularly
If a car battery stays unused for a long time, then it starts to drain the battery. This can lead the battery to die. So, you should start your car and go on a ride at least once a week. This will help maintain the charge in your battery. If a car battery loses its charge completely, then it will be dead. In this case, you will need to jumpstart or recondition the battery to make it fully functional.
2. Keep The Battery Clean
You will need to ensure that the battery is clean in order to keep it healthy. If the battery contains dust and dirt on it, then it can also cause draining. The dust and dirt can also cause a short circuit in the battery. As a result, the battery will be dead. The battery terminals can also get affected by corrosion and can affect the function of the battery. This is why you will need to clean the battery terminals and keep them free from corrosion.
3. Water Your Battery When Required
Car batteries need watering regularly to stay good. So, you will need to add distilled water to your battery at regular intervals for better performance. In general, the battery electrolyte levels decrease more during the summer and hot weather conditions. This can damage the battery cells and overheat the battery. To prevent this, you should consider adding putting distilled water in the battery cells.
4. Use Terminal Spray to Prevent Terminal Corrosion
Since a car battery goes through wear and tear, corrosion is normal for them. The battery terminals can get corroded due to several reasons. However, after cleaning battery terminals, you will need to treat them with a terminal spray to keep them safe from corrosion. By using a terminal spray, you can prevent corrosion in battery terminals as well as connection points.
5. Keep The Battery Stable
The vibration of the car is dangerous for the battery and can damage the battery. This can also affect the performance of the battery. In this case, the hold-down bar keeps the battery stable. But if the hold-down bar is loose, then it can cause the battery to rattle around. So, open your hood and check if your hold-down bar is loose by shaking it. If it is loose, then you will need to tighten the bolts to keep the battery stable. If the hold-down bar is damaged, then you should consider replacing it.
6. Don’t Use the Battery When the Engine Is Off
Using electronics accessories in the car when the engine is off can lead the battery to drain. In general, music systems and interior lights drain more battery power. This can impact the lifespan of the battery. Therefore, you need to switch off the accessories of your car whenever you park your car. This will help keep your car battery healthy.
7. Use A Trickle Charger If You Don’t Use the Car for A Long Period
If you are not going to use the car for a long period, then using a trickle charger is the best option for you. The trickle charger usually provides a steady charge to the battery and helps maintain the battery charge. If you don’t drive the car frequently, then you can use this method. You can simply connect a trickle charger and charge your battery. This will keep your battery in good condition.
8. Check The Battery Voltage At Least Once A Month
The lifespan of a lead-acid battery will start to decrease if you keep it without charging for a long time. Therefore, you should check the battery voltage at least once a month using a multimeter. If the battery voltage is 12.7 or more, then the battery is in good condition. But if the battery is 12.5 volts or low, then you will need to recharge the battery. If the battery is below 12 volts, then it is dead. However, this can be reconditioned.
New Car Battery Frequently Asked Questions:
-
What Is the Lifespan of a New Car Battery?
In general, the lifespan of a new car battery depends on how the battery charges and how long it holds the charge. If you can’t recharge a battery, then it is clear that the battery is dead. If you use the battery properly in optimal conditions, then the battery can last up to six years.
-
In Which Condition A Car Battery Can Become Dead Quickly?
In general, there are multiple reasons that can make a car battery dead. A car battery gets charged when you drive the car. So, if you don’t drive your car for a long time, then it can make your battery dead. Moreover, when you make a lot of short trips, the battery will not get charged properly. This can also make your battery dead.
Apart from that, keeping the accessories on when the car engine is off can drain the battery quickly. So, you should never keep your car electronics on when the car is off.
-
Do I Need to Charge My New Car Battery?
No, you don’t need to charge a new car battery. When you buy a new battery, it is sealed and fully charged. So, you can use the battery directly in your car. But if you don’t use the battery for a long time after installing it in your car, then you can use a trickle charger to keep your battery healthy.
-
When Should I Replace a Car Battery?
Usually, the lifespan of a car battery is four years to six years. But the actual lifespan of a battery depends on the condition of the vehicle. In general, you should start to monitor the performance of your battery when it exceeds three years. You will need to check the problem with your battery before it gets severe.
Usually, most batteries don’t show any signs before they fail. So, it will be better if you monitor the battery condition actively. When replacing the battery becomes crucial, you should replace it with no delay.
Conclusion
Installing a new battery in your car is essential when the old battery becomes inactive or damaged. After installing a new car battery, you will need to take care of it in the right way to keep it healthy.
If you want to know more about batteries and how to handle them in the right way, then you can consider joining the EZ battery reconditioning program. This program will teach you how you can recondition a dead battery and save money from battery replacement.
