How To Prevent Problematic Battery Issues With Your Car

It’s a familiar yet deeply regrettable scenario most motorists endure on occasion. You sit down, you fasten your seatbelt and you turn the key…and nothing happens.

Well, nothing more than the disturbing death-rattle of a battery that’s decided not to cooperate.

If your battery seems to be letting you down on a regular basis for no apparent reason, it’s something to be investigated ASAP.

Here’s the good news - an uncooperative battery isn’t always a sign of a severe problem. It may not even be necessary to replace your battery outright, which can be quite a costly job.

It could simply be that one or more factors are causing your bike trip to run flat more often than it should. In which case, you could help steer things in the right direction (pun intended) by taking heed of the following tips and guidelines:

1. Don’t leave your car unused for too long

Contrary to popular belief, temperatures don’t have to plummet to Antarctic levels to take a toll on your car’s battery. If you’re leaving your car for prolonged periods unused, moderately cool temperatures are more than enough to put a drain on it.

Hence, if possible, give your car a good run from time to time, rather than letting it gather dust and deteriorate for too long.

2. Avoid frequent short journeys

That said, jumping in your car on a regular basis for short trips you don’t have to make can have a negative effect on its battery. This is because it takes a serious amount of battery power to get your car started in the first place, after which it gradually recharges itself as you drive.

Hence, if you start your car, run it for a few minutes max and shut it off again, it’s unlikely to have had enough time to replenish its charge. Sooner or later, it could end up running flat.

3. Make sure everything is switched off

Obvious but worth repeating, as even a single interior light left on for a couple of hours can be enough to wreak havoc with your battery.

The same also applies to the bits and pieces you leave in your USB ports and cigarette lighter sockets - all of which drain your battery silently in the background.

4. Get your car serviced

It’s not always a standard check performed during a service, but you can ask your mechanic to give your battery a once over. They may recommend manually charging it, they may pick up on something wrong with your alternator or they may inform you that your driving habits are to blame.

In any case, it’s never a bad idea to have someone who knows what they’re doing have a look at your battery.

5. Upgrade while you can

Last but not least, a battery that simply isn’t as reliable as it needs to be is a battery that needs replacing. Irrespective of how much it costs, it’s a small price to pay to reduce the risk of breaking down at the worst possible time in the worst possible place.