Regardless how beautiful or expensive your car is, if it has a malfunctioning battery, the entire package will be futile. Many car owners, especially those with brand new cars often take battery care for granted, thinking that it will always be in its best state. But it's a no-no. The last thing you'll need is a car that will not start because of a dead battery. But the good news is, you can spare yourself from the expensive service charge and free yourself from the worry of being stranded somewhere by doing a simple 10 minute battery checkup and applying essential maintenance tips.
Aside from having a set of wrenches always ready, a hydrometer, cable puller, post cleaner or side terminal are all a must-have. You can purchase these things from an auto parts store. You should also bear in mind that battery service can be skipped, given that the mechanic it during periodic servicing, but regular maintenance is still necessary.
Clean the car cables
The very first thing that you have to do is to clean the top of your car battery and get rid of any corrosion from the cables. You can do this using a tablespoon of baking soda, water, and a non-metallic brush. After flushing it with cool water, disconnect the cables but be sure to begin from the negative part. Then, loosen the cable clamp bolts and give it a gentle twist. When you have finally removed them, clean off the corrosion that is often around the battery terminals with your post cleaner.
Check the electrolyte level
Do this by gently prying off the covers of your car battery cells. The mixture of acid and water in the battery or known as electrolyte should be approximately ½ in deep. If water is necessary, be conscious to only use clean distilled water without overfilling the cells. Then don't forget to check the case of the battery for cracks. In case a crack is present, immediately replace your battery.
Check and charge the battery
The electrolyte level in each cell should be checked. You can squeeze the ball and draw a solution to the tester. Hold the tester and take note of your reading, then squirt the solution back to the cell. Remember that a fully charged battery is supposed to have 1.265 or higher reading. If the reading is fair or lower, recharge it.
When putting the new battery, disconnect the negative cable first
Be sure to remove the battery hold-down clamp. When disconnecting the cables, start with the negative, then positive. Also, remember to replace your current battery with one that has a higher rating.
Lift out the old battery
Do this by tying a heavy-duty strap to ears (side) of the battery and lift it out gently. Be very careful because the acid in the battery can be dangerous.
Reinstall clamps and cables
Carefully lift the new battery and put it in place. Then, connect the hold-down clamp and connect the cable to the positive terminal, the negative afterwards.
Felisa is a passionate writer who enjoys writing articles related to business, travel, cars, health, beauty, and e-commerce among others. She writes for Laredo Supply Co. Battery Center that specializes in different types of batteries, especially the hard to find ones. She posts most of her articles on Laredo's Twitter account @laredosupplyco managed by Social Labor Group.
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