A decent starter battery should last between 3 to 5 years. A good deal of the difference will be down to the temperature under which it operates. It gets mighty warm under the auto hood from the engine warmth. But this can become even hotter when baking under summer heat, so try to park in shade. But there are more things you can do at operating level to extend starter battery life, and we share them right here.
Four More Ways to Extend Starter Battery Life
- Your car, pickup, or other vehicle battery packs a punch when you start up. This consumes a fair amount of its total capacity. You therefore need to travel a fair distance to recharge it completely. Avoid taking too many short rides.
- Keep your battery in good shape, by wiping the terminals with clear grease to prevent white powder forming. Make sure the cable connections are tight, but do not over-tighten them. Also check the securing bracket is in position.
- Never leave your vehicle for more than a few moments with any accessories operating, except parking lights, and hazard flashers if you must. Main lights and entertainment centers can rob a battery of its charge overnight.
- The best way to extend starter battery life is not to let it lose too much of its charge. An engine running on idle may be unable to replace all the energy draining from a battery, with the air conditioning and / or infotainment running.
And finally, while you may be able to extend your starter battery life with these tips, all good things must eventually come to an end. Ask your battery supplier to check your battery health twice a year. Then replace it if it is ailing, before it fails and completely dies on you.
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