It is common knowledge that car batteries are at the core of any car’s functions, providing the needed power to start your engines, lights, and other electrical systems.
However, car batteries have a limited lifespan no matter how well you maintain them, after which they lose their ability to hold sufficient charge to power your vehicle. Many variables and conditions affect your car’s battery lifespan, so there are several practical measures you can take to boost its longevity.
Car Battery Life Fast Facts
- The average car battery typically lasts between 3-5 years. Some newer models can last up to 7 years, all dependent on several factors.
- Dead batteries are the leading cause of car breakdowns nationwide and beyond, causing significant inconveniences to many drivers.
That’s why you need a quick and reliable professional mechanic on hand to help you navigate emergencies like dead car batteries that prevent you from going anywhere. 800-CarGuru’s professional team guarantees quick response time, providing swift repairs and battery diagnostic repairs to all our customers in the UAE. Therefore, you can be back on the road in no time.
Getting the Most Out of Your Car Batteries
As mentioned early on, although your batteries will inevitably wear out, there are still several ways to take good care of them. This way, you can preserve car batteries for as long as possible, extracting maximum value from them. Some of the best ways to accomplish this include:
Keep Your Battery Terminals Clean
Dirty terminals are reportedly the leading cause of dead car batteries. As such, keeping your batteries and terminals clean is an essential step you can take towards extending your battery life. It would be best to check regularly to ensure that the top of your battery is dry, clean, and without any dirt and grime. Dirty batteries can discharge across the grime on top of the casing, causing mild short circuits, which can flatten the battery out over time.
Battery terminals also corrode gradually, so you must regularly inspect your battery terminals. Any corrosion signs around them can easily be eliminated with a quick scrub using a toothbrush, some water, and a thick paste of baking soda. Alternatively, you can take the vehicle to expert auto service centers like 800 Car Guru for a technician to carry out a car battery service for you.
Drive Regularly and Avoid Too Many Short Trips
Regardless of your car's brand, leaving it parked for days on end will cause your batteries to self-discharge, losing their efficacy over time. Your battery also receives a workout every time you start your vehicle, but it needs to be recharged by the engine during the journey. As such, if you are consistently driving short distances, your battery will repeatedly fail to sufficiently recharge. Over time, this translates into a steady reduction in battery voltage until your car can no longer start.
Consequently, several experts recommend driving your vehicle frequently and for more extended periods. This way, your car battery can recharge adequately, and you avoid self-discharging. Experts recommend disconnecting your car if it is going to be unused for a long time. Also, consider fitting an absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery if your trips are unavoidably sporadic and short.
Regular Maintenance and Check-Ups
Experts recommend maintenance for car owners as a proactive way to prevent costly future repairs, keep your car in good working condition, and guarantee your passengers' safety. Indeed, regular maintenance can be beneficial to your battery's lifespan too. You can use a voltmeter to frequently check whether your battery is charging correctly and providing the proper charge level for your electrical system. If you notice a significant drop in your battery's voltage, consider a car battery replacement immediately, as this is usually indicative of a faulty battery. You can replace the battery yourself if you already know how to, as it is a fairly straightforward process. A professional assessment might also be necessary to determine whether your battery and electrical system are functioning correctly and replace your battery if necessary.
At 800-CarGuru, we provide car battery replacement services to our customers, offering battery replacements with quality options backed by up to 18 months warranty.
Be Mindful of Extreme Temperatures
Few things take more of a toll on your car’s battery life than extreme temperatures. Many people think that cold weather does the ultimate damage to battery life, which isn't entirely true. Batteries work harder to start engines during winter alright, but many fail during this period due to damage sustained over the summer. During the summer, high temperatures increase water's evaporation rate from your battery's cells, even in sealed top batteries. Your batteries then degrade faster, facilitating a quicker dead battery. Therefore, it would help to take several proactive measures to regulate battery temperature including:
- Always parking your vehicle in shades if possible to prevent prolonged sunlight exposure.
- Keeping your car inside your garage when not in use to limit time spent exposed to harsh weather conditions.
Keep All Electronic Accessories Off on Start-Up
The following can significantly drain your car battery:
- Air conditioning
- Lights
- Climate control
- Seat warmers
- Navigation
- In-car entertainment systems
Keeping these accessories on during start-up tasks your battery with running them and powering your starter motor simultaneously, causing it to work extra hard. Over time, your battery's longevity is affected as it is consistently overworked. Therefore, please turn off all these accessories before kicking your engine into life, as they don't need to be on during start-up. You can switch them on to enjoy your journey after you have started your vehicle, so keep this in mind to guarantee maximum battery life and reduce the strain on related components.
800-CarGuru is the UAE’s largest car repair service provider. Whether you have a breakdown emergency that needs dealing with right now or a routine service to keep your car running smoothly, you can rely on our professional and highly skilled team to deliver what you need.
