Extend Your Car Battery Life in Morristown, TN

Tips on Extending Your Car Battery's Life

Nothing can derail your day more than turning your car’s ignition, and nothing happens. If your car battery makes a few sharp clicks, you likely have a dead battery. Unlike tires, batteries don't come with spares. Thus, you'll need someone to jumpstart your car or call roadside assistance before your day can begin. This happens to most drivers at least once in their lifetime, but it is avoidable.

In essence, your car battery is the heart of your car, supplying the power to start and run everything. But your battery may wear out more quickly if you only make frequent short trips or leave electronics operating when the engine isn't running.

Taking good care of your car battery is the best way to extend its life and avoid unexpected problems on the road. Here are some tips on how to maintain a car battery.

What to Do to Extend Battery Life Without Spending a Dime?

Make sure your battery is secure.

Regularly check your battery to make sure it is tightly fastened all around. Batteries that are not properly secured may have a shorter lifespan. In addition, a loosely mounted battery can result in loose connections at the terminals.

While driving, a battery that isn't tightly attached to its mounting bracket or tray can experience excessive vibrations, damaging the battery internally.

Alternatively, loose cables create substantial resistance to electricity flow between battery terminals. The battery works extra hard to perform normally, and some electrical problems could occur if this happens.

Clean your battery regularly.

Keeping your battery terminals and cables clean will prevent corrosion from building up. In time, this buildup will damage your battery's performance. When you do not handle corrosion properly, your battery may be unable to hold and deliver a charge efficiently. As a result, you may have trouble starting your car or using other electrical components.

Regularly cleaning your battery terminals and cables can extend the battery's lifespan and prevent problems with your vehicle. Wire brush or specialized terminal cleaning tools can clean your vehicle's battery terminals. Make sure to disconnect the negative cable first and then the positive cable. Reattach the cables and ensure you securely fasten them after cleaning the terminals.

Disconnect all accessories.

The battery starts your car and supplies electricity to several accessories. To conserve battery power, turn off various car accessories, such as seat warmers, chargers, and air conditioning, before starting your vehicle.

To give your battery a break, avoid parasitic drain. A parasitic drain occurs when your vehicle's electronic components draw power even when off. The issue could be something obvious, like an interior light left on, or something much more subtle, like a stuck relay.

Turn off and unplug your accessories before leaving your car to prevent your battery from draining overnight and reduce power consumption the next day.

Don't let your car sit idly for long periods.

Leaving a car idle for a long time causes the battery to discharge and the cells inside to degrade. Since batteries generate power through chemical reactions, corrosion builds up and eventually degrades the cells.

Inactivity can damage the battery and cause other issues with your car. For example, the tires may have flat spots, the brakes may have rust accumulations, and seals and gaskets may be damaged. Keeping your car running at least once a week will help prevent these issues. Be sure to take the vehicle for a drive to keep the battery charged and the components lubricated.

Check your battery regularly.

Regular checkups are essential to maintaining your car battery's performance and condition. An expert can detect damage or deterioration through a thorough inspection. It involves inspecting the terminals and casing for corrosion, cracks, and wear.

If you want to ensure that your battery is working properly, it is best to seek professional assistance. Rusty Wallace Hyundai's service department has tools that measure battery capacity. You may need a new one if your old battery isn't performing well.

Have your car battery serviced at least once a year. You might need to do this a few times a year if you see warning signs such as dim lights and slow cranking. Having your car's battery professionally serviced will help ensure it lasts longer.

Battery Replacement, Inspection and Maintenance at Rusty Wallace Hyundai

At Rusty Wallace Hyundai, we monitor the condition of your battery and check its output voltage. As part of routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations, you can add battery services to your Hyundai vehicle's checks. Talk to a member of our parts department about finding a reliable battery replacement when you're ready to replace yours.

We will be happy to help you monitor your battery health through battery testing or find a suitable replacement. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.