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More on Car Batteries

If you’ve been reading my regular column, you’ll know that we’ve briefly covered car batteries in the past. However, that discussion was primarily dealing with the battery’s contribution to your vehicle’s ignition system. For those of you who have just joined, let’s review. The battery in your car supplies the electrical current required to power the ignition system and other parts. If it dies or runs dry, it can’t generate that current. As a result, your vehicle stops running. In this article, I’ll provide some advice regarding how to maintain your battery’s life. Then, we’ll talk about replacing and getting rid of it.

Making It Last

In most cases, batteries can last several years before becoming useless. If you’ve spent any time in an auto parts store, you’ll have noticed that prices can vary wildly. Cheap units can cost as little as $40 while high-quality models will often sell for over $100. As a rule of thumb, the highest-priced batteries will usually last a couple of years longer than a mid-range model. And as you’d expect, low-priced alternatives will have a shorter lifespan by a couple of years.

New units are designed to require little to no maintenance. You won’t have to do much to ensure it lasts for years. On the other hand, if you’re buying a used car or driving an older model vehicle, check the casing for fissures. Next, take the caps off the top and look at the fluid levels; if they’re low, replenish them with distilled water. Also, use a wire brush to clean the corrosion that accumulates on the poles and connecting cables. Finally, make sure you drive your car at least an hour each week. That allows the alternator to keep your battery fully-charged.

Time For A Replacement

Wear gloves and goggles when you’re replacing the battery. Yes, you’ll look mildly silly. But, the acid contained inside is painful; accidents happen and it’s better to take a few precautionary measures. When you’re removing the old unit, note which terminal is negative and which one is positive. Take the negative terminal off first. Once you’ve cleared the connections, lift the battery from the frame that holds it and set it upright on the ground. Place the new battery in the frame and connect the positive terminal first. Also, it doesn’t hurt to spray anti-corrosion grease on the terminals.

Out With The Old

So, what do you do with the old unit? You can’t just throw it away; there’s a lot of toxic material inside. Call the repair shop that you normally take your vehicle to and ask if they can direct you to a recycling facility. There’s typically no charge for dropping old batteries off for recycling because the core can be reused. The important thing is to make the time to actually take it there. You’d be surprised how many people simply toss old car batteries into a local dumpster, not realizing how hazardous doing so is.

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