5 Ways To Get More Life Out Of Your Car Battery

Your car battery is only designed to last for a specific amount of time; however, there are steps you can take that will help extend the life of your car battery, allowing you to get more mileage and usage out of your car battery.

Take Long Drives

One way to extend the life of your car battery is by taking long drives in your car, where your vehicle is on and sending power to the battery for an extended period of time. Only taking short trips, where your battery is not able to fully recharge, can result in your car battery not lasting as long as it should.

Keep Your Battery Secure

Your battery is held in place with the battery terminals and within a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket and terminals can get loose over time. Loose parts can cause your battery to wiggle around, which can lead to damage to your battery. When your battery is vibrating and moving around when you are driving, short circuits and internal damage are much more likely when your battery is not securely fastened in place for the ride.

Make Sure You Turn Your Lights Off

When you get out of your vehicle, make sure your headlights and car door lights are turned off. Many vehicles will beep at you if you leave your lights on, and some modern vehicles will turn your lights off after a certain amount of time has passed. Still, it is best to make sure that all lights are turned off when you exit the vehicle. Leaving lights on, even if they eventually turn off, still puts a strain on your battery.

Limit Electronic Usage When Car Isn't Running

When your engine is not running, your battery is not able to recharge. When you sit in your car and use the radio or run the heater when your vehicle is off, you are running down your battery power. This type of usage can be tough on your battery and can cause unnecessary wear and tear. Limit your use of the car when it is not actually running in order to get more usage out of your car's battery.

Keep the Battery Terminals Clean

It is common for corrosion to accumulate on the battery terminals. Keeping the battery terminals clean of corrasion will help extend the usage of your car battery. It is easy to clean away the corrosion. Start by mixing up some baking soda and water. Apply the mixture to the terminals and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then, use a small brush to scrub the terminals. Rinse everything with cold water and repeat at least twice. This should dislodge and remove most of the corrosion. If the corrosion is really bad, consider replacing the battery terminals.

When your car battery finally stops working, you can purchase a new or used car battery. Most auto part companies will help you swap out your car battery and will recycle your old car battery for you. Always recycle your old car battery