Are you noticing issues when you start up your car in the mornings? How about when driving at night and your headlights are too blurry? You may be wondering, “How do I know if my car battery is dying?” When a battery fails it’s a serious issue that wants instant attention, and commonly not at a convenient time or place. Ask your mechanic to inspect your battery to see if it’s time for a car battery replacement.
If you’ve had to pay for a premature car battery replacement and want to keep it as long as possible, here are six simple tips to help extend its lifespan.
- Combine trips – Consider joining a carpool.
- Keep the battery tightly fastened – A loose battery can jiggle connections and cause intermittent electrical connections.
- Turn off the lights – When you arrive at your destination, be sure to turn off all lights and unplug electrical devices that use power, such as a cell phone.
- Keep the battery terminals clean. Corrosion inhibits the electrical current that flows from the battery to the engine and other electrical accessories.
- Check-up – Have the charge in your battery tested on a regular basis and top-off the cells with water if necessary.
- Limit electronic use when idle – This causes a heavy pull of electrical current from the battery and the alternator may not be able to keep up recharging the battery.
Are you asking, “How do I know if my car battery is dying?” Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to make an appointment. Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served car owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
