Your car’s battery has a limited lifespan, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take action to help it to last longer. These tips from West Omaha Auto Service can help you to take the best possible care of your car’s battery for years to come.
Stick to Your Maintenance Schedule
Your car’s manufacturer recommends a series of different services that you should have done on a routine basis. These services help to keep the entire car and every system within it running properly. If you’re taking the car in for these regular maintenance appointments, you’re giving the auto technicians plenty of opportunities to notice anything else that might be off. You can also ensure that you’re having the battery and alternator tested on a routine basis.
Start the Car Regularly
The absolute best way to keep your car’s battery in good working order is to use the charger that’s meant to go with it. That means starting your car regularly and letting it run for at least 20 minutes. This allows the alternator to send enough of a charge back to the battery to keep it topped up. If you drive your car regularly already, this isn’t a big deal. But if you don’t, this is something that’s important to consider if the car sits for periods of time.
Visually Inspect the Battery Regularly
There can be visual signs of trouble with your car’s battery, too. If the case is bowing out, cracked, or otherwise doesn’t look right, that can be a sign that you need to have the battery tested or inspected. Also, look for corrosion on the battery posts. That can be another sign of possible trouble with the battery.
Turn Stuff Off
This might not sound as important as it is, but if you turn off things like your car’s lights and the radio before you turn the car off, that lessens the load on the battery the next time you turn the car on. That’s because those items all draw power from the car to function. When the car is already running, that draw comes from what the alternator generates. From a cold start, it’s all on the battery and that adds stress your battery doesn’t need.
West Omaha Auto Service in Omaha, NE can help you with all of your battery maintenance and replacement needs. Just give us a call and we can test your battery and alternator for you. If you do need a replacement battery, we can help you to find the right one for your car.