5 Ways to Take Proper Care of Your Car Battery in the Winter Months
Winters are notoriously troublesome times for car batteries. In the UK, the cold waves that seemingly increase every year have resulted in significant damages to many vehicles, mostly to their cells. These cold waves, colloquially termed the ‘Beast from the East’, dragged the mercury down to as low as -11°C, and resulted in more than 80 deaths in 2018 alone.
Under such hostile conditions, it is vital to know how to care for a car’s battery. If the cell starts to malfunction and you remain none the wiser, it can be disastrous. Here are some pointers which professionals recommend.
Battery care in winter
Winters usually last from October to early-March in these British Isles. Here are 5 ways you can keep them in shape for these 6 months.
Drive regularly:
Regular short trips keep a battery in proper form. Never keep a car battery lie idle. It will cause irreparable damage in the long run. Using it, albeit for short spans, makes sense, as it prevents the cell from completely draining out. Besides, a car in motion also helps keep the chemical reactions inside a battery from fizzling out by providing kinetic energy.
Maintain the battery case:
A neat battery case is often an undervalued asset. A clean case prevents the build-up of harmful dirt and grime on the cell’s terminals. Besides, it also prevents moisture from accumulating near the terminals. Ensure that the next time you go to service your Car Battery Peterborough, you even ask the service personnel to check the case for dislocation and damage. Battery casings are prone to damage due to the constant vibrations that a vehicle produces.
For better results, visit a professional service station, Forza Tyres . They sell a variety of fresh Tyres Peterborough from the most famous manufacturers at reasonable prices.
Try and park indoors:
You should not try and push your luck by parking in the freezing weather outside. This year, the ‘Beast from the East’ brought with it gusty winds with speeds of up to 160 kmph. It can severely impact the entire vehicle, and indeed the battery too. If you do not own an indoor garage, you can consider renting one from your local service station. Public parking plazas are also great options.
4. Solar converters can help:
While the Sun may play hide and seek with you in winters, it occasionally shows up. A Solar converter helps in keeping your car battery charged by turning Solar energy to electricity. It is an inexpensive device that is readily available online as well.
5. Never ignore warning signs:
Modern cars have an array of sensors aboard, including some which constantly monitor the battery in real time. The next time you go to buy a car battery in Peterborough, ensure that its ECU is running correctly too. At times, however, an ECU might not show anything askew. But keep an eye out for frequent short circuits and extended recharging time spans. These indicate a damaged cell.
Car batteries usually last around 5 to 6 years when maintained properly. While the service life will increase if pushed, it is not advisable. Ensure adequate checks and repair sessions at regular intervals. Contact professionals for more details.