Car Battery Care

Proper care and attention is essential to the life of a car battery, and although car batteries these days are virtually maintenance-free, you can extend the life of your battery by performing simple routine tasks and care. After miles of driving, brackets that hold it in place can loosen, and the tray can deteriorate from corrosion. All batteries weaken in time, especially in bouts of cold weather, but there are simple steps you can take to properly care for and maintain your car battery to extend its usage for many more months.

Tray Care

Approximately every six months it's important to care for the tray by cleaning it and checking for signs of corrosion. Turn the engine off, pop off the terminal caps if necessary, and disconnect the negative black terminal cable. Next, disconnect the positive terminal cable, and remove the battery bracket hardware. Lift the battery from the tray.

Inspect the tray, and brush off any corrosion with a small wire brush. Wipe away excess dirt and debris, and if the tray is metal, protect it with a coat of acid-resistant paint. Allow the paint to dry completely before replacing the battery.

If you discover the tray is badly damaged or weak, buy a new vinyl tray from an auto parts store. If the old tray wasn't bolted in, it will have to be chipped off with a cold chisel, and holes for the new hardware will have to be drilled. Once the old tray has been removed, mark the location for the new tray where the old tray was attached. Drill new holes, and securely attach the new tray with strong bolts.

Bracket Care

It's also important to care for the brackets by checking for corrosion and slack on a regular basis. Brackets that become loose or corroded will cause excessive vibration, and unnecessary vibration can shorten the life of the battery.

While cleaning and inspecting the tray, inspect the brackets for signs of corrosion, and tighten the hardware if it's loose. If the brackets are corroded, provide care by cleaning them with a small wire brush, and apply penetrating aerosol solvent. If cleaning the brackets reveals excessive damage, replace them as soon as possible.

Recharging the Battery

New car batteries are expensive, so it's important to get as much use from a battery as possible. Short jaunts and cold temperatures can weaken a battery, but you don't have to replace a battery that's lost a little power. You can provide care that could give you many more months of use.

If the charge indicator window on your car battery is indicating weakness, invest in a trickle charger. A trickle charger is fairly inexpensive, and it will provide your battery with a much needed overnight charge.

Begin by turning the engine off, and carefully connect the red charger clip to the positive terminal. Connect the black or green charger clip to the negative terminal. Use extreme caution while making the connection. Don't allow the clips to come in contact with each other or any other metal. A spark can cause an explosion if the battery is leaking hydrogen gas. Turn the charger on after it's properly connected and plugged in.

Allow the battery to charge overnight or for several hours. Once the meter indicates less than one ampere, turn off the charger, unplug it at the outlet, and disconnect it. Your newly charged battery should start your car without hesitation.

If your battery is still weak or sluggish after adequate charging, attempt to jump-start the car. If the ammeter or indicator light shows a normal range of operation, it's to invest in a new battery.