It's 100 degrees outside in the middle of summer in southern Texas. You walk out to your car, braving the heat, in order to make it to work at least partially on time. You get in, feeling the oppressive heat of the inside of the car, and put the key in the ignition. You turn it, expecting to hear the reassuring hiss of the air conditioner. Instead, there's only a click. What happened here? You didn't leave your lights on overnight.
There are a few things you should know about car batteries in order to avoid having this happen to you. Firstly, a car battery will generally last around three to five years. Your vehicle's battery life is negatively affected by short trips and by exposure to extreme temperatures.
Once you are presented with a dead battery, you should first determine the age of your battery. If your the offending part is more than three years old, replacement is your best option. If it is a relatively new battery or you're not sure the age of the battery, you should first don safety goggles and protective clothing and then charge and test the battery. It is relatively inexpensive to purchase a home battery charger and tester, and these tools could be invaluable if you find yourself in a bad situation. If you do not have one, you can remove the battery from the car and take your battery to your dealership or to an auto parts facility for charging and testing.
Your battery requires regular maintenance in order to stay in good condition. Terminal protector spray is a good and inexpensive way to take care of this important vehicle component. The spray should be applied to new or clean terminals every six months.
It is a good idea to keep jumper cables and safety goggles in your vehicle at all times in case of the death of your vehicle's battery. You could also invest in a battery jump box, which negates the need to hook jumper cables to another vehicle. Be certain that you are comfortably familiar with the use of both of these options before you need them. A misstep with a live jumper cable or battery jump box could be hazardous to your health.
If you have questions about your Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC or Acura battery, contact us today at (409) 924-3400 or make an online appointment to bring your vehicle to one of our certified technicians.
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