Importance of getting your car battery checked this summer
Taking a road trip with your friends and family on summer vacation may be exciting, but summer means your car needs to be maintained in more ways than one, not just mechanically (like the engine) but also electrically (batteries, for instance).
Summer is the season that most affects battery health compared with winter.
When it comes to routine maintenance, we must pay some extra attention to the car batteries.
How does summer affect the batteries of your car?
As the temperature rises to its peak during the summer the electrochemical reaction inside the battery also gets speeded up which leads to self-discharge which is more common in automotive batteries. So they require frequent charging to retain their efficiency. Extreme heat during the summer may cause the fluids in the batteries to evaporate which may further cause damage to internal components of the battery while the ability to withhold the charges and charging capacity also decreases. Apart from the above-mentioned points, turning your engine on and off frequently for very short trips and age and the mileage covered by your car also determines your battery health and performance. So it is essential to get your battery inspected by the specialists frequently, this should be considered more seriously during the summer since the high temperature makes your battery problems more vulnerable. In this blog, we are listing out some simple tips that can help you to a certain extent in protecting your car batteries during summer.If possible, park your car in the shade and keep it cool?
When your car is directly exposed to sunlight the hood of your car gets heated rapidly, so by parking your car in the shades you are lowering the temperature to a certain extent which may protect your car battery and increase its lifespan.Maintaining clean battery terminals is advised?
When the dirt and debris get accumulated on the battery terminals they will drain the battery charges very fastly. Similarly, when your battery terminals get corroded it will cause a hindrance to the current flow which may cause your battery to work harder. Your battery terminals can be kept in good condition using terminal protectors and anti-corrosion spray to prevent them from getting corroded. Battery terminal brushes are designed with greater flexibility so they can be used to clean both the positive and negative terminals.Try Avoiding short trips instead go for one Long!
As you know alternator recharges your car battery as you drive, when you take frequent short trips you fail to give enough time for the alternator to charge your battery as a result battery power will be depleted.Test your battery voltage
Testing your battery voltage will give a clear picture of your battery performance. Frequently monitoring them will help you to stay from the electrical breakdowns. If the voltmeter shows abnormal reading apart from the standard values, visit your service centre and inspect your battery health by the specialists as soon as possible.Avoid leaving your car unused for weeks
Similar to taking very short trips, leaving your car unused for more than a week can also reduce the chances to get your battery completely charged. So pay attention to the way you use your car.Turn off the electrical systems in your car when the engine is not in use.
Make sure the car electrical systems in your car like headlights, interior lights, music system, interior lights and others are not used when your car engine is not running, because they will drain the battery power easily. Only when the engine is working, the alternator is on which can recharge the car battery without any hindrance. So use the electrical systems in the car only when you are driving. Apart from the above-mentioned ways, checking your car battery weekly and refilling it with the distilled water whenever needed without skipping throughout the summer can enhance the performance of your car battery and help it to withstand the damages caused by the extreme temperature throughout the summer.Signs that indicate the problems with the car battery
Some signs that indicate car batteries need immediate attention are listed below, After which you can close the windows and let your car Air conditioning system cool your car temperature inside. Once the cabin temperature settles down, use your AC at the minimum speed. After this, you can use your AC even in recirculation mode.- Slow engine crank is one of the most common signs that indicate a problem with your car batteries.
- The headlights are dim
- Problems with any of the electrical systems in your car that you use frequently like radio, power windows, music system and many others. They work through the electricity that comes from the battery. Any problems with your car’s electrical accessories indicate that your car’s battery needs to be inspected.
- The battery is swollen and the terminals are loose and extremely corroded.
- When the battery warning lights on the dashboard are on, get them checked immediately to avoid the major issues associated with the battery.
