Most people take for granted that their car engine is going to start up when they turn the key in the ignition. That is – until it doesn’t. Needless to say, it’s not a pleasant experience getting stuck in your garage, a driveway, parking lot or a holiday destination location in a remote area due to the car battery being down.
As a professional towing service and roadside assistance company, Reliable Guys Towing is always there to help, however a dead battery is one of those frustratingly preventable service items that can usually be prevented with periodic maintenance and good driving habits.
In this post, we’ve put together some great tips on how to avoid running battery down to a point of requiring a car battery jump start service.
Operation Recommendations
Driving Regularly
A battery is designed to be charged periodically, and if it isn’t, the capacity can be reduced through chemical potential reductions and “leaks” from the battery circuit. Your car battery should remain fully charged as the vehicle is driven on a regular basis.
If you will leave your vehicle parked for a number of weeks, it is advisable to have someone start the engine and leave it on for some time once or twice in a week. This will ensure that the car maintains its battery charge. If you this isn’t possible, it is best to leave the battery disconnected before leaving.
Turn Off Accessories: Car accessories left on when the car is are not running and stationary as it can discharge the battery quickly. Although this can be corrected by recharging your battery, it will shorten its lifespan.
Avoid Consistent Short Trips
If possible, avoid taking short trips in your car (less than 20 minutes) as the car does not have enough time to recharge and will only drain your battery.
Avoid Extreme Cold
It is advisable to part your vehicle inside the garage during winter as this will protect it from extreme cold that shortens its lifespan.
Servicing Tips
Follow the Service Manual
Ensure that you also service the vehicle in accordance to the manufacturer’s schedule to ensure that the engine is working in the correct manner. This will stop the battery from working harder and thereby increase its lifespan.
Charging Rate
Another important aspect to consider is the charging rate of your battery as over and under charging it generally reduces its lifespan. Reputable battery dealers can conduct the quick checks on your behalf.
Keep Your Battery Clean
You should ensure that the battery case is kept clean as the dampness and dirt around the battery causes it to lose charge. The case and terminals should be cleaned thoroughly during the car services.
Securing Batteries
Ensure that your battery is secured properly on the engine bay as vibrations cause it to become loose and can cause damages to its plates.
Know When to Replace
Lastly, you should always replace your car battery after 3 to 4 years but this duration will be determined by the weather, driving habits and conditions.
There you have it. Hopefully these simple tips will help you increase the service life of your battery as well as prevent sudden failure so you don’t have to call for car battery jump start service from Towing Service companies like ours.
Like your battery, your car brakes need regular attention if they are to function optimally. Keep you and your family safe, and save a few dollar by checking out our article on the Warning Signs You Need New Brakes.
Need a Jump Start? Call Reliable Guys Today…
Stranded roadside and need emergency roadside assistance? Why not choose the towing team with over 20 years experience exclusively in our proud Gateway City.
Whether you need jump-start service, a knowledgeable mobile locksmith, or need help with an unexpected flat tire, we’d be more than happy to serve you. Give us a call at (314) 325-1016 and one of our knowledgeable towing service reps will help assist getting a tow truck to you so we can quickly get you on your way.
