A lot of drivers think car batteries don’t need any upkeep. They figure if the car starts, the battery is fine, and if it doesn’t, you just need to jump-start it or get a fresh battery. But keeping your battery in good shape is about more than just remembering to kill your headlights when you park. Your car battery is actually pretty important. It does more than just start your engine. It keeps all the electrical stuff working while your car is off, like your clock and security system. Plus, it helps your car’s electrical system run smoothly when the engine is on. A weak battery can cause problems with your car’s computer, lights, and even how it drives. Taking care of your car battery can actually save you money and trouble in the long run. You’ll avoid getting stranded with a dead battery, and you might even extend the life of your battery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dirty or corroded battery terminals are a leading cause of battery failure. Corrosion can hamper power flow from your automotive battery. In extreme cases, it can be extreme enough to prevent the battery from providing enough power to start your vehicle. Corrosion can also cause the terminals to overheat, which can cause damage to the battery and battery cables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To clean your battery terminals, start by identifying the positive and negative terminals. Completely disconnect the battery, starting with the negative terminal followed by the positive terminal and making sure that neither of the battery cables touch metal during the process. Make a mixture of equal parts baking soda and water. Apply the mixture with a hard-bristle brush to both battery terminals. When finished, wipe the terminals down with a wet rag, removing all the baking soda and water mixture. Then wipe with a dry cloth. Reconnect the battery cables, starting with the positive terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An easy way to help prevent the buildup of dirt and corrosion on your battery terminals is to use a battery terminal spray. After cleaning your battery terminals as explained in step 1 and before reconnecting the battery cables, simply apply the terminal spray to both battery terminals and the terminal ends of your battery cables. Then reconnect the battery cables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An easy way to be kind to your battery and prevent damage is to unplug devices when the car isn\u2019t running. Leaving smartphones, GPS navigators, and other accessories plugged in can drain power, leaving you with a dead battery. It\u2019s also a good idea to turn off headlights and interior lights when you turn off your engine. They will also drain power from the battery. Also, make sure you start your car before turning lights back on, which reduces the strain on your battery during starting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s how to change your car battery: 1. Get your stuff ready: a wrench, gloves, and battery terminal cleaner. 2. First, disconnect the black cable (negative). Then, disconnect the red one (positive). 3. Take off any clamps or brackets holding the battery in place. 4. Carefully lift the old battery out. 5. Clean the tray and the metal connectors. 6. Put the new battery in the right way. 7. Connect the red cable (positive) first, and then the black one (negative). 8. Make sure the battery is secure with the clamps or brackets. 9. After you’re done, test your car’s electrical stuff to make sure everything works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blown fuses happen a lot in cars. They’re there to stop circuits from getting overloaded. It’s not hard to swap out a blown fuse, just do this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, turn off the car. This way, you don’t risk getting shocked when you mess with the fuse box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, find the fuse box. Your car’s manual will show you where it is. It’s usually under the dash, in the engine area, or around the glove box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, check the fuses to find the bad one. Pull it out with pliers or a fuse puller. If it’s blown, the little metal strip inside will be melted or broken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, put in a new fuse that’s the same size, color, and amperage. Don’t use a different one, or you could damage the circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, test whatever wasn’t working before, like the lights or radio, to see if it’s working now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pro tip: Keep some extra fuses in your car. They don’t cost much and can really help you out if something goes wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The alternator keeps your car’s lights on and charges the battery. If your battery keeps dying, or your lights get dim when you drive, the alternator could be the problem. Here\u2019s how you can check it and change it out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Checking the Alternator:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Grab a multimeter and see what the battery reads when the car is off. It should be around 12.5 volts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start the car and test it again. If the alternator is working, it should read between 13.8 and 14.4 volts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If it\u2019s not in that range, you might need a new alternator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking Out the Old Alternator:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, disconnect the battery, so you don’t get shocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove the belt that goes around the pulleys and unplug the wires from the alternator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take the bolts out that hold the alternator in place and pull it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Putting In the new Alternator:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Put the new alternator where the old one was and tighten the bolts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hook up the wires and put the belt back on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Connect the battery again, and start the car to test the new alternator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing to Remember: If you\u2019re not sure about doing this yourself, get a mechanic to do it. You could mess things up worse if you do it wrong.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A lot of drivers think car batteries don’t need any upkeep. They figure if the car starts, the battery is fine, and if it doesn’t, you just need to jump-start it or get a fresh battery. But keeping your battery in good shape is about more than just remembering to kill your headlights when you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-62","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":111,"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions\/111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web31251291.lab1.almamater.si\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}