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Replacing your car battery is a fact of life for a vehicle owner, but there are steps you can take to prolong the inevitable. There is a reason that when a car battery fails, we say it is dead. That’s it. Game over. It’s the point of no return.
But that doesn’t mean we have to go softly into the night! Although it’s inevitable that your vehicle battery is going to fail at some point, there are many things you can do to extend the life of your car’s battery.
Let’s start by looking at the usual suspects, known for ending the life of your vehicle battery:
SUSPECT #1- Extreme Temperatures
At this point, we’ve all seen the memes about Cleveland weather. One of the Internet’s favorites is the picture showing a person wearing a winter hat, overcoat, swim trunks and flip flops, capturing the true nature of Cleveland weather: It often goes from summer to winter in a matter of hours. It’s hard on all of us, but it’s also hard on your car battery.
Solution: Keep Your Car in the Garage When Possible
Easy, right? Only if you have a garage! For those of who you who don’t, we have helpful tips for protecting your car without a garage.
SUSPECT #2- Electronics
Car manufacturers have done all of us a tremendous favor by incorporating multiple USB ports and power outlets in the designs of new vehicles. In this era of technology, it’s a must to have a way to stay connected, and in order to do that, you have to have power. The problem is that if your car isn’t running, as your phone charge goes up, your car battery’s power goes down.
Solution: Unplug
Don’t worry, we’re not saying to return to colonial days and abandon your electronics. Simply disconnect all cables when the car isn’t running. Many vehicles will continue to charge your device even after the car stops running. Good for your iPhone. Not good for your car battery. The easiest solution is just to unplug all power cables when your car isn’t running.
Suspect #3- Corrosion
A scientist might tell you that corrosion occurs as the hydrogen gas being released from the acid in the car battery mixes with other elements in the atmosphere under the hood. A homicide detective would tell you that gas and acid would be elements that could be used in a murder. And that’s exactly what they do—they combine to kill your car battery faster than it should expire.
Solution: Keep Your Terminals Clean
There are many ways to clean your car battery terminals, and they all work. If you aren’t sure about how to go about doing the job yourself, let the pros at Rad Air do it for you. Contact us or schedule an appointment online.
Suspect #4- Old Age
It happens to all of us, doesn’t it? Eventually old age catches up with your car battery and it has to be replaced. You can put it off by taking good care of your vehicle, but at some point you’ll have to get a new battery.
Solution: Let the Pros at Rad Air Take Care Of You!
If you are unsure as to whether it’s time to replace your battery or not, bring your vehicle to your local Rad Air. What appears to be a dead battery can actually be the signal of a bigger problem, so let us inspect your vehicle to determine exactly what you need to get back on the road!
To schedule an appointment online with one of the certified automotive technicians at Rad Air at any of our 11 Northeast Ohio locations, simply use our online scheduler.