Do car batteries need maintenance?

In general, their lifespan relies on a myriad of factors: the weather, your driving habits, what type of car you drive, and so on. The most crucial factor is how well you look after your car battery. 

With proper and regular car battery maintenance, you ensure that it won’t let you down when you need it most. It’s critical to follow these essential maintenance tips so you won’t ever have to deal with being stranded. However, if you’re getting poor performance from your car battery replace it.

What’s the average car battery lifespan? 

Three to five years. As mentioned above, the lifespan would depend on a lot of factors, especially the level of maintenance and other general weather conditions. For instance, if you live in a hot and sunny area like Dubai, you have to deal with a lot of heat. 

When an already hot and running engine deals with further heat from the weather conditions, it could lead to severe battery drain. The fluid that runs in car batteries is also at risk of evaporation under harsh warm weather conditions.  

With such hazards to look out for, we’ve created this comprehensive guide on how to take better care of your battery. Follow these tips, and you’ll have a battery that can run longer than average, meaning you won’t have to get a car battery replacement service too often.  

Keep your car battery secure  

Ensure your battery is secure after setting it up. The front-end of the car will have a lot of movement and pushing, so an unsecured battery could short circuit. Have the battery mount and terminal periodically checked to ensure that it’s properly fastened. 

Get a car battery test done often  

The message behind this one is simple. Knowing how well your battery is doing is key to maintaining it for the long road. Get a car battery tester to periodically test your battery’s output and maximise its lifespan. 

Disconnect the battery if you’re not going to use the car for a while 

This is only applicable if you’re not going to use your car for at least two weeks or more. Just disconnect the connector from the battery terminal to ensure there is no decrease of battery power whilst the vehicle remains idle. 

Coming back from a trip and facing a car battery dead in performance is the last thing you’d want. This is why it’s critical to follow this tip if you’re giving your car a rest for a while.  

Turn off all the lights and accessories when leaving 

A lot of battery power gets eaten when you accidentally leave any lights or accessories on whilst exiting the car. Since car batteries aren’t meant to power these accessories when the vehicle is not on, it will harm your battery. 

Try to curb short drives as much as possible 

Going for quick, brief drives don’t allow the car battery to charge completely. By going for longer and more frequent drives, you maximise the battery’s charging capabilities and help maximise its life.  

Keep the battery clean 

Ensuring the entire battery terminal is possibly the most straightforward tip in this entire guide. All you have to do is carry out a monthly inspection of the console for any dirt build-up. Brush off all the dirt from the console and also look out for any corrosion.  

Monitor corrosion levels 

Battery terminals tend to corrode over long periods. This is why it’s critical to keep a regular check and act promptly if you happen to find any signs of corrosion. Any rust or corrosion-related tips, such as using soda or baking soda, will work in effectively removing the corrosion.  

If you stay neglectful of your battery, you’ll end up having to get a car battery change service. In case you require a car battery replacement, it’s vital to pick the best mechanics.  

At ServiceMyCar, we have access to the finest garages in our extensive service network. Making a booking now on the ServiceMyCar app or our website.