A dead car battery is possibly a car owner’s biggest fear. People dread a dead car battery because it happens unexpectedly without any warning. You may be driving on a highway and this can happen to you, leaving you stranded.
A dead car battery is not something like a flat tire that you can replace on the side of the road. Most people do not drive around with spare car batteries in the trunk. A battery for a car is not cheap either, so people often try as hard as they can to make sure that the battery remains functional for a long time. There is also some people who knowing the consequences of a dead car battery, wait for their car batteries to die before having them replaced. Though this is pretty rare.
The Importance of a Car Battery
The battery is a car’s heart and soul. A car battery is responsible for powering up all the electrical components in the car. It does so by providing a jolt of electricity to all the components. So practically, the functions of a car depend entirely on the battery. With a dead car battery your car is rendered completely immobile. This is what goes about in this little box
- The battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy. This is the electrical energy that is necessary to power your car.
- It also is responsible in stabilizing the energy supply in order to keep your car running.
Although a car battery is small and relatively inexpensive, the power it provides is immense. On average a cars’ battery will last you around 3-5 years, but rash driving, exposure to different elements and rough climatic conditions, it can affect the longevity of your car battery. There are ways you can avoid a dead car battery, here are the top 5 ways in which you can do so.
- Maintaining Your Battery
This is one important step. Taking care of your car’s battery is the best you can do. You should check for corrosion around the battery terminals. This corrosion is usually in the form of a white powdery substance. Whenever you’re not about use the car for long periods of time, it is important you ask someone to start it periodically, not to let the battery freeze.
- Check for Your Battery’s Age
Many people don’t really know how old their batteries actually are. As mentioned earlier, most car batteries last about 3 to 5 years. Hence, you need to keep track of this, it is important that you note the date or save the receipt when you buy the car’s battery so that you are well aware of when you have to replace it. This simple step can help you avert battery problems before it fails. You can always check your car battery on your own, just open the car’s hood and check for a sticker on the battery. This sticker will usually have the date on it. Sometimes you can tell the age of the battery simply by the way it looks.
- Look for Signs
Although a dead battery is something that happens to you unexpectedly, you can always look for signs that tell you that it’s probably on its last stage. One way is to notice the sound of the engine when you start the car. If it sounds like it cranks slowly, then it’s a sign that your engine is about to die. Another way of checking for your battery is to check for dim headlights when the engine of your car is off.
- Replace Your Battery
After you’ve checked for the age of the battery or simply noticed that cranky sound, it is best you get your battery replaced as soon as possible. You don’t want to get stranded. Get to an auto parts store, the mechanics there will guide you through the process and often suggest the type of battery your car needs. Batteries usually come with three-year, four-year, or five-year warranty. It is prudent you purchase the battery from a trusted manufacturer. The battery is an important component of the car and instead of regretting it later, it is better you make the right decision when you have to.
- Get a Battery Test
Most auto parts stores will test the battery for free. So it is best to take advantage of this opportunity and get it checked. You can also go to any other electronics store and get your battery checked in order to know if your battery is in good shape. Checking of the battery is a quick process, but leave it to the professionals. It is not recommended that you do it since it’s a tough process and requires some prerequisites that you might not have.
These simple steps can save you from a dead battery or at least have you prepared for it. It’s best to get all the knowledge you can when it comes to batteries to avoid unnecessary expenditures and the chances of being stranded in the middle of nowhere.