Maintaining and Replacing Car Batteries

By Jean Noodle


Battery life can be fairly unpredictable, especially if you are living in colder conditions or you use your car a fair amount. Fortunately though, there are several checks that you can perform to keep your battery in working order for as long as possible. The first thing to remember is that vibrations can destroy the inner components of car batteries. As a result, you should then make sure that everything is held securely in place by the clamps found within your car's engine bay.

Corrosion is also another cause of reduced battery performance. When conducting an inspection, have a look at the terminal connections to see if you can spot a build-up of rust. If you do, you should take your car to an expert in car batteries as soon as possible. They will be able to remove the excess corrosion, returning your battery to its optimal functioning state. Just remember that you should never attempt this on your own as you may damage your car or injure yourself in the process.

Lastly, you should thoroughly look over the external case of your battery to see if there are signs of weakness or compromise. Bulges, cracks and other marks all tell you that you need to replace your battery as soon as possible. This is because car batteries are generally filled with harmful, corrosive chemicals which could leak out of these weak spots at any time. The sooner that you get the battery replaced by a professional mechanic, the safer your engine will be.

Regardless of the battery's condition, you should go and get it checked by a professional every three to six months anyway. This is because car batteries can still reach the end of their lifespan without giving any visual warning signs. Instead, you should visit an expert in the field who can then examine your battery to make sure that it is still running at its optimal capacity. If there is a problem, these specialists will then be able to provide a replacement on the spot.

Installing a new car battery must always be conducted by a professional however. You should never attempt this on your own as there is a chance that you could injure yourself or damage your vehicle in the process. An expert in car batteries will know exactly what to do to ensure that the part is installed within your vehicle in the correct manner. Most will offer free fitting anyway, meaning that the price will not be much different from doing the job by yourself.




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