When starting your vehicle does it go click, click, click?- Has your battery light been coming on lately?
- Is there corrosion growing on your battery?
- Have you had to jump start your vehicle?
Typically when it gets cold out is when your overdue battery likes to take a dump on you. If your vehicle is suffering from any of the above conditions your more than likely overdue on your vehicles battery replacement service. Are you due for a battery replacement?
Replace Car Battery Every Four Years
Do you know when your suppose to change your vehicle’s battery? It really depends on where you live and how you drive your vehicle, the condition of your charging system, plus a few other determining factors. But typically a battery lasts about four years on average. Sometimes they last longer, sometimes not as long, where in the long run you can make them last longer with a little T.L.C. otherwise known as preventive maintenance.
Low charge and acid stratification are the most common causes of battery failure. Around 50% of premature car battery failures are caused by the loss of water for normal recharging-charging due to the lack of maintenance, evaporation from high under hood heat, or even overcharging. Undercharging, inactivity, heat, deep cycling, low electrolyte level, parasitic drain, and or even overcharging are the typical culprits that prematurely kill batteries. Hence the less your battery sees these determining factors, the longer your battery (investment) can last.
What is worse for your vehicle’s battery, the cold, or heat? Heat kills batteries plain and simple. Now you might not realize it until the winter brings out what the heat did to it. But in the long run it is always recommended to test your vehicles battery after the second year of use, then after every few services and then replace it at your four year mark as preventive maintenance. Unless you like being stuck, paying for tows, and or basically wasting money.
How To Make Your Car Battery Last Longer
Want to know how to make your car battery last longer? Keep it clean, avoid short trips whenever possible, wrap it up whenever possible if it isn’t already, brush it off (which can be included under keeping it clean, just hence the importance). Going on an extended vacation? Try disconnecting your battery, it will help it last longer. Before you do though make sure you know your radio code if applicable. Some people just can’t live without their radio.
- One of the best tricks of the trade to making your battery last longer is if your not going to drive your vehicle for an extended period of time simply disconnect your battery terminals.
- Keep your battery & battery terminals clean. Simple but basic step to prolonging the life of your vehicles battery. The dirt that builds up on top of your battery overtime can and will eventually discharge or even short out your battery. Hence an importance of keeping it clean. Another thing is if you notice a corrosion build up on your terminals, that is a sign of a problem.