Caring For Your New Battery
Due to the increased electrical demands of modern vehicles, our batteries are working harder than ever.
Battery faults are the most common cause of breakdowns, especially during the winter months. To avoid untimely breakdowns, caring for your battery from the outset is extremely important.
There are a few practices that can drain or damage your battery:
- Using your vehicle infrequently or only for short journeys won’t allow your battery to charge and will cause excessive drainage to your battery.
- Low temperatures can slow down the chemical reactions within a battery, meaning that recharging takes longer, and the battery won’t hold its charge.
- High temperatures can cause the liquid inside your battery to evaporate, leaving the internal plates vulnerable to damage.
- Leaving electrical devices or lights switched on when you’re not driving will drain your battery.
If you’ve got a new battery, then you’ll be keen to extend its life as much as possible to save yourself time and money on a replacement. Luckily, some routine maintenance and best practices can keep your battery in good health for longer.
The best ways to increase your battery life
Carry out a visual check
Without removing the battery from your car, have a look round and check that it isn’t damaged and that it’s looking clean.
If it has an open vent or pipe, make sure this is free from blockages. Also, make sure the terminals and hold down clamp are tight.
Clean your car battery
Overtime, dirt and debris can collect on your battery and corrode metal elements such as the battery terminals. Therefore, you need to clean your car battery every few months to avoid long-term damage.
You can either create your cleaning solution by mixing baking soda and water or use our Electrical Contact Cleaner with a wire brush to remove any crust and corrosion left on the battery. Remember to wipe off any cleaning fluid residue on the battery so it doesn’t go through the battery ports and cause damage.
Get the right battery charger
To keep your battery charged you’ll need a battery charger. Just make sure that you find one that’s compatible with your vehicle’s battery.
We’d recommend a smart charger; these devices can repair and protect your battery while it charges to keep it healthy for longer. Using an advanced, multi-step system, smart chargers refill your battery in stages to stop any excess current. Not only does this prevent damage, but it also makes for more efficient charging.
If you’re not driving your car frequently (in excess of a month) then you should charge your battery using a battery charger.
Halfords Motoring Club
Did you know that with the Halfords Motoring Club you can save money on the likes of batteries, wiper blades, and bulbs? Join the Halfords Motoring Club today to access a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.
It’s free to join, and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.