How to maintain your car battery

No matter how well you take care of your car battery, eventually one day it will no longer hold enough charge to start your vehicle. On average, a car battery will last three to five years, but there are a few different factors that impact the longevity of your battery. These include weather, battery type, battery age, and everyday usage.

A car battery is an essential part of your vehicle and should be kept in good condition. The battery will supply energy to all electrical components of your vehicle such as the headlights, radio and starter motor. The starter motor, put simply, is basically a direct current electricity motor that requires a fully functioning battery to get the car started.

Why is your Car Battery important?

The car battery works by relying on a chemical reaction. It converts chemical energy into electric energy which delivers voltage to the starter motor. Converting energy to start the car is only one part of the battery’s important role. Once the car has started, the car battery needs to be able to continue to supply a steady current of electricity to keep the engine running.

With some parts of the car, you can usually tell if something is damaged and needs repair simply by seeing the condition it is in. Car batteries, on the other hand, have the potential to look immaculate on the outside but internally may be having a wide variety of issues. A sluggish start is often a sign that your vehicle might need a car battery replacement.

How to fix a dead car battery?

It’s important to keep in mind that while there are a few things you can do to get your car back on the road once the battery dies, the safest and best solution is to head straight to a repair shop or parts store for a new battery.

Jumping a car is the most common method when your battery has died and you need to get your car back on the road. In order to successfully do this, you will need either a second battery or a vehicle with jumper cables. It’s hard to know how long the battery in your car will last once jump started, so try to get to a mechanic or auto parts store as soon as possible.

Do mechanics recharge car batteries?

Different mechanics have different rules and processes when it comes to recharging car batteries, but many will be able to recharge your car battery for you. Most mechanics will have diagnostic tools that are capable of conducting an analysis to determine the current health state of your battery and why it isn’t working well. The tests may rule that all you car battery needs is a recharge with a car battery charger, or it may need a total battery replacement.

How do I charge my car battery?

Getting the most out of your car battery is easy when you follow simple steps such as keeping your battery charged with a car battery charger. It is quite common for batteries to completely die out when the car has been sitting in someone’s garage for an extended period of time without being driven. Find an appropriate car battery charger that matches your car and allow up to 24 hours to fully charge a flat battery.

When do you need a new car battery?

There are some key signs to look out for that could mean you need a new car battery:

The ignition won’t turn over

If you have put your key in the ignition to start your car but have noticed that the car won’t properly turn on, then you most likely have a flat battery. It is also possible that the battery terminals are loose or have corroded and are restricting the flow of electricity from the battery to the starter motor.

 Always need to jumpstart

As mentioned above, jumpstarting your car is a great way to get your car back on the road in the event of a flat battery. This of course is a temporary solution and should be done so you can get home or take your car for a car battery replacement.

There are visible issues

While most issues that can happen with a car battery are not visible, signs of a cracked or swollen battery or an acid leak mean that your car needs a battery replacement urgently.

The battery is old

When you take your car in for a service you can always ask your mechanic to check your car battery. Even though you may not have noticed any specific issue with your battery, if it is old it could actually be putting you at risk.

How can we help with your car battery?

Great Lakes Auto Centre is part of the Bosch Car Service Network, which means that all the equipment in our workshop is Bosch approved. We use over ten diagnostic tools to help make the car service process accurate and efficient. This means that if you come into our workshop with questions about your car battery, we will be able to accurately diagnose any battery issues and properly advise whether a battery recharge or total car battery replacement is best for your vehicle.

If you would like to enquire about our car battery price or make an appointment for a car battery replacement, get in touch with our friendly team today on (02) 6590 1375, or fill out our contact form and we will be in touch.