In order for your vehicle to run, it needs a good working battery. The most important thing you can do for the battery is to use it. An idle battery can lose its charge and sulfate from the sulfuric acid inside the battery build up inside it. This weakens its ability to keep and maintain a charge. Even taking your vehicle out once a week will help keep the battery healthy, and will prevent it from dying unexpectedly. The battery is dependent on the alternator, starter, and battery terminals in order to work properly.
Sometimes a weak alternator will cause the battery to appear like it is no longer able to hold its charge. You should always have the battery examined when you go in for scheduled tune-ups and oil changes. By testing the battery, you will have a better idea of when you might need to purchase a new one. You can also look at the battery itself. Corrosion or stains on the battery means you have a leak somewhere on it. You can also look for buildup around the terminals as well. Another way you can tell the battery is bad is the smell. If you notice a rotten egg or sulfuric smell, it is the smell of the battery overheating.
Maintaining your vehicle’s battery is something you should think about year round. While it is necessary to change the battery and replace one if it is a few years old, you should do all that you can to maintain the battery’s life to help save you money. While they may cost more initially, they save you money in the long run by not replacing them as often. It is also important to prolong the life of the battery as long as you can. There are a few easy tips you can do to help this. You can make sure everything in your vehicle is turned off. Leaving your lights, radio, and other equipment on while your car is not running can drain the life of your battery. Turning all of these off when you are not driving is a good way to extend the life of you battery, and should be done at all times.
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