Your car battery is the powerhouse for your vehicle, and without it, you’d be left stranded. It’s constantly working to keep your engine running and powering many different accessories. It takes a lot of wear and tear, so it’s important to take care of your car battery to make sure it lasts. Here are some tips for preventative maintenance that can help keep your car battery healthy:
Check the Battery Terminals
The terminals on the top of the battery can become loose or corroded over time. You should check them regularly for any signs of corrosion or wear and tear that could prevent them from functioning properly. Corrosion can build up around the terminals due to heat, humidity, and other environmental factors. If you notice any corrosion or looseness in the terminals, make sure to have them cleaned or tightened by a professional mechanic right away.
Check Your Battery Fluid Levels
Your car battery contains electrolyte fluid which helps provide power to start up the engine. Checking this fluid is important because when levels become too low, it can affect how well your car runs and may cause problems with starting up your vehicle in cold weather. Make sure you regularly check the fluid levels of your car battery according to manufacturer specifications and top off as needed with distilled water if they are low.
Inspect Your Car Battery Cables
The cables connected from the battery should be inspected for any signs of wear or damage on a regular basis as well. Damage can occur due to vibrations from driving or extreme temperatures which may cause fraying in cables or even complete breakage in some cases. Make sure you look at all sides of each cable where they connect with both ends at both ends of each cable for any signs that they might need replacing before any serious damage occurs as a result of frayed cables not providing enough power through them for proper operations inside your vehicle's system(s).
Keep Your Car Battery Clean
Cleaning your car battery will help maintain its overall health by removing dirt and grime which may cause premature deterioration if left unchecked over time. To do this, use baking soda mixed with water (1/4 cup baking soda per quart) and use an old toothbrush (or something similar) to scrub away all dirt build-up on all surfaces around both sides of each terminal end/connection area(s), being careful not to touch any wires connected directly onto these areas during cleaning process(es).
Test Your Car Battery Regularly
Testing your car battery will give you an accurate read-out on its current charge level so that you know when it needs recharging or replacement if necessary. You should have this done every six months by a professional mechanic who will also inspect other components associated with it such as alternator belt tensioning strength/adjustment levels along with checking/testing voltage regulator functioning status as part of their services provided during tests performed upon its overall health condition assessment results obtained thereafter during same service visit(s).
These are just some tips for keeping your car battery healthy through preventative maintenance measures that don't require too much time or money but can go a long way towards keeping things running smoothly under-the-hood when driving around town! Proper care will ensure longevity & reliability out on roads while helping avoid costly repairs down road due unforeseen circumstances caused by lack thereof! For more information about maintaining & caring for vehicles in Sonoma County CA including Healdsburg area locations – contact Sartorial Auto Repairs today – we'll be glad assist & answer questions regarding best practices available upon request!