What are the maintenance methods for car batteries?
4 Answers
Car battery maintenance methods include: 1. Start the car regularly to charge the battery; 2. When the electrolyte is low, replenish with distilled water or a dedicated replenishment fluid; 3. During daily driving, frequently check if the small holes on the battery cover are ventilated; 4. Inspect the positive and negative terminals for signs of oxidation; 5. Check all parts of the circuit for aging or short circuits; 6. Turn off electrical devices when leaving the car. The functions of a car battery are: 1. When starting the engine, the battery supplies power to the starting system, ignition system, and electronic fuel injection system; 2. When the engine is stopped or at low idle, it powers the car's electrical devices; 3. When the generator's output is insufficient, it can assist in powering electrical devices; 4. It mitigates voltage surges in the electrical system, protecting the car's electronic equipment; 5. It can store excess electricity generated by the alternator.
I'm usually quite careful about battery maintenance, mainly to prevent discharge. I always remember to turn off the air conditioning and headlights before shutting down the engine, especially the reading lights. Last week, my neighbor forgot to turn off the interior light, and the car wouldn't start the next day. I always keep a jump starter in my car. If the battery light on the dashboard comes on, I use a voltmeter to check it. If it's below 12.4 volts, I drive for at least half an hour to recharge it. For aftermarket devices like dash cams, their power consumption shouldn't exceed 0.5 watts after the engine is off. My car's battery has been in use for three years, and the terminals had some white corrosion. I poured hot water over them and applied Vaseline, which improved the contact significantly.
As an experienced electrician, I find battery maintenance quite simple: regular checks. Have the car wash attendant clean any green corrosion off the terminals each wash. Buy a $10 voltage tester that plugs into the cigarette lighter - just make sure it reads at least 12V before starting. Every three months, pop the hood to check fluid levels, topping up with distilled water if low (supermarket mineral water won't cut it). Long periods of inactivity are the worst for batteries - disconnect the negative terminal if parked over two weeks. Last week I helped a coworker measure parasitic drain - his car had 0.3A leakage from an old navigation system that wasn't fully removed. Remember, start-stop vehicles need special AGM batteries - regular ones can't handle it.
Northern Car Owners Share Winter Survival Tips. As temperatures drop, battery capacity decreases by 30%. Last year at -20°C, my car wouldn't start, costing me 300 yuan for emergency assistance. Now, before winter arrives, I always do three things: charge the battery overnight, park in an underground garage, and keep jumper cables ready. When starting in the morning, power on first and wait for the fuel pump to finish working before ignition to reduce strain. Once, using a hot towel to warm the battery actually revived it, but a friend warned it might cause dangerous explosions, so I don't try that anymore. Remote start features consume significant power—remember to turn them off when not in use.
