How to Maintain Car Batteries?
2 Answers
Car battery maintenance methods: 1. Avoid parking the car in open-air parking lots for extended periods. If long-term parking is necessary, remove and take the battery to prevent freezing damage; 2. Charge the car battery regularly. A battery left unused for long periods will self-discharge until it becomes unusable, so start the car periodically to charge the battery; 3. Car engines are harder to start in winter. Each attempt to start the engine should not exceed 5 seconds, with intervals of at least 15 seconds between attempts. If the engine fails to start after multiple attempts, check other aspects such as the electrical circuit, ignition coil, or fuel system; 4. Clean the battery terminals periodically and apply special grease to protect the wiring harness. Regularly inspect the battery's accessories and connecting wires.
Last time my car battery suddenly died and I had to call for assistance, so now I pay extra attention to maintenance. Here in the north, winter temperatures can drop below minus ten degrees Celsius, so it's essential to use a battery charger to top up the battery every month. Short trips of half an hour simply aren't enough to fully charge it. Develop a habit when parking: turn off the air conditioning blower before shutting off the engine, otherwise the sudden high current during the next startup can damage the battery. If you install a dashcam, make sure it's connected to the ACC circuit—the kind that automatically cuts power when the engine is off. I also apply petroleum jelly on the battery terminals to prevent oxidation and bought a charging port with voltage display to monitor it constantly. If the voltage drops below 11.8V, I charge it immediately. With these practices, my battery has lasted four years without needing replacement.
