A Dead Battery - How To Keep From Getting Stranded

Have you ever found yourself needing to hop into your car and get to an appointment only to find it won't start? Your battery is dead. Doesn't it always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times? There are things you could (and should) do to avoid that dilemma.

In your owner's manual, there is typically a chart describing the routine service and maintenance that you should do on a regular basis. You may be slightly skeptical of these figures thinking that they are designed to get you into the shop more frequently.

In fact, cars are made better now, so the mileage requirements for changing the oil or getting a tune up have been modified... lengthened. So take a look at your manual and stick to a plan for regular maintenance.

Talk To Your Dealership

We suggest that you go to a reputable dealer for care, because the good ones will perform a thorough inspection -- often a 128 point check. And they'll do it every time. They can tell you if things are in good shape or if there is something in the vehicle that is in a yellow condition (which means it's "OK, but watch it"). Sometimes they may say a part is in red condition. That is when you need to replace it immediately. Imagine not knowing something like this. Of course you want to know when there is a serious problem, particularly if it is safety related.

Five Ways To Keep Your Battery Going

1. Get a load test on the battery. This is a process to put a demand on the system and measure its response. Do this frequently ... at least every six months or 3K to 5K miles, whichever is less. This will tell you how strong your battery is.

2. Check the corrosion on the battery terminals each time you're in the garage. Once corrosion occurs your car may randomly fail to start because the electrical contact is lost between the battery and the cable.

3. Pay more attention to the battery during the cold weather. The life of the battery is affected dramatically when the temperature goes down because they require more cranking amps in cold weather, reducing cranking power as much as 35%.

4. Be careful to turn off head lights, the radio and the inside lights. A continual drain on your battery shortens its life. Leaving the lights and radio on pulls heavily on the battery each time you start the car.

5. Make sure you have the proper rated replacement battery for the vehicle. In other words, don't be penny-wise and pound foolish and get stuck somewhere. The battery has to handle the draw load for the electronics of your vehicle. To use a battery that is not a proper match for your vehicle will reduce its life.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6216715

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