Automotive Blog

As summer temperatures begin to rise, remember that heat will shorten the life of your car battery by evaporating the electrolyte’s water and corroding the positive grids. By adopting some basic battery maintenance procedures and considering preventative measures, however, you can avoid being left stranded in the sweltering heat.

• Keep the battery’s top clean so dirt can’t act as a conductor pulling power right out of your battery and eating away at the terminals.
• If applicable, remove the caps and make sure the battery’s fluid levels are maintained.
• Invest in a good battery tester to get an accurate reading on the health of your battery.

Consider using a solar trickle charger. These units plug into the 12-volt or “cigarette lighter” socket and feed power into your vehicle’s battery to keep it topped off. (Not all of these chargers are created equal. Do some research on leading brands and find one with a good reputation for performance.)

Arm yourself with jumper cables or a portable power pack. Xantrex, for instance, makes a line of portable power sources that are, essentially, big batteries. Charge up the Xantrex unit from the wall plug and when you need it, the attached jumper cables will kick start your dead battery. (The Xantrex units also have outlets to power small appliances and are excellent for other power emergencies and for camping trips. Some units are also equipped with air compressors.)

Posted on June 4th, 2007 by Shorty
Filed under: general |

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