There's a popular misconception that all your battery needs is a jumpstart to stay healthy. This false theory, however, has left many drivers stuck with a failing battery while completely baffled, not knowing what the issue is.
Don’t wait until you see the battery light flashing on your dashboard to take action and start maintaining your battery. Our blog is the handy guide you need to reduce breakdowns and avoid costly battery repairs.
Let’s dive in.
One part of the vehicle that is often disregarded when talking about vehicle health and maintenance is the battery. The battery and the engine are two parts that make the vehicle able to function and move, but often enough, the focus is only on the engine.
Let’s change that, shall we?
Your battery is responsible for providing power to your engine and lights, allowing you to change gears and be on your way. When the engine is turned off, it also powers all the other electrical components of your vehicle, like your radio or air conditioner.
A well-maintained battery can have a long service life, provide reliable performance and also prevent unexpected and costly breakdowns from happening. To achieve this, it needs top-notch servicing.
Before we start focusing solely on our vehicle batteries, let’s first see the bigger picture of your whole vehicle. What use is a healthy and thriving battery if it works with parts that aren't running efficiently?
To keep your vehicle as healthy as can be, servicing is recommended every few months to ensure small issues are checked and fixed and don’t grow to be costly if ignored. Vehicle inspections are determined by their make, model and mileage. Depending on these 3 factors, different types of vehicle maintenance plans can be recommended to ensure that every part, from tyres and oil to battery and engine, is running at tip-top shape:
To make sure all the effort you're putting into having a lasting vehicle battery pays out, you have to know what kind of battery your vehicle has and use the correct maintenance techniques. Batteries can be like that, you know; what works for one type might not have the same effect on another.
Vehicle batteries don’t cause many issues for their drivers, and it's for this reason that most drivers don’t take a second look at their batteries when performing regular inspections. Often enough they don’t see issues with the batteries until it's too late and they find themselves stuck on the side of the road calling for help.
To prevent calling a tow truck to move your vehicle or flanking down other drivers for a jumpstart, here are a few battery maintenance tips to keep your battery working for longer.
Unfortunately for many motorists, batteries are not a once-off purchase type of item. A vehicle battery’s estimated life expectancy is around three to five years. Over time, they get worn out and eventually need to be replaced.
Here are signs you should look out for of a failing battery:
If you see these signs along with a cracked battery case, a fluid leak, or a bulged battery case, it’s unfortunately too late to save the battery and it should be replaced.
Even though the invisible clock is ticking away to when you will eventually replace your battery, there are still some helpful methods you can use to extend your battery’s life for a few more rides.
Often, the battery health gets swept aside as many drivers assume all the battery needs is a jump start if it ever has issues, but that’s far from the truth. Fortunately for many drivers, maintaining your battery is relatively easy.
☑ Inspect your battery: Before getting your hands dirty, take the time to look around your battery and check for any signs of damage like cracks, bulges in the case, or any leaking fluids. These are sure signs of battery failure and suggest your car needs a new battery.
☑ Test your battery’s voltage: To confirm if your vehicle battery is indeed losing power, you can use a battery tester to measure the battery’s voltage. A fully charged battery should have a voltage of around 12 V. If the voltage is too low, then it might need to be recharged or replaced.
☑ Keep your battery terminals squeaky clean: Corroded terminals slow down the electricity flow from the battery to the car’s electrical system. To correct this, simply use a wire brush or a material to wipe to remove any gathered corrosion around your battery. If the corrosion is tough to clean, disconnect the battery cables and use a mixture of baking soda and water to lightly remove it around the terminals.
☑ Regularly charge your battery: Have you recently noticed that your battery isn't holding much charge after leaving your vehicle parked for days at a time? Vehicles that aren't often used don’t have enough time to recharge, which results in low power output and shorter battery life. Use a battery charger or maintainer as a solution to keep your battery charged even when it’s not in use.
☑ Check the age: Car batteries usually last between three to five years, if you’re experiencing frequent issues with your battery, check if the age of the battery is the cause. Even if your battery still works the same but is approaching five years, consider replacing it before issues start to occur.
☑Ensure your battery isn’t stored loosely: Your battery should not move around or vibrate while you're driving. This can loosen the battery and cause internal damage and short circuits.
This battery maintenance advice works for most battery types but what about batteries in electric vehicles?
When it comes to electric vehicle (EV) batteries, regular charging is the way to go. Unlike regular vehicles that rely on petrol to drive from one location to the next, electric vehicles rely on their batteries and how much charge they have to make the trip.
To ensure your vehicle’s battery lasts, these techniques are used.
These ensure drivers get the most out of their battery by swiftly identifying any issues with the battery before they become costly.
Don’t get stranded in the wrong side of town because of your battery.
Cartrack, the trusted industry leader in vehicle safety and fleet management does more than just track the location of your vehicle in real-time, it can also track your vehicle health, monitor your battery, provide features to empower you to get ahead of your vehicle maintenance and get you out of battery-related situations.
In addition to our features, our tracking units shine for their reliability and integrity. Rest assured, knowing that as hard as our tracking unit works 24/7, gathering vehicle data and offering you valuable insights on your vehicle’s daily trips and usage, it won’t damage or negatively affect your vehicle’s battery in any way. This means that you can enjoy these tracking solutions:
Whether you’re using Cartrack for security, efficiency, or to keep track of your vehicle, rest assured that your battery will still be able to give its best.
So, are you ready to say goodbye to your vehicle safety and battery woes? Contact Cartrack today for trusted vehicle safety solutions.
