5 things to follow if you don't want to have dead batteries

All batteries are bound to lose their energy and die, including car batteries. It’s how the science of automotive battery technology works.

There are various reasons why the car battery dies. It can either be because it wears out usually, normal self-discharge, or a parasitic drain.

Good thing, there are also several ways to prevent car batteries from dying. The secret here is to determine the reason why the battery dies or the different factor which might cause it to die in the future, then addressing those issues beforehand.

Good thing, there are also several ways to prevent car batteries from dying

Philkotse.com is here to help you identify and address those issues before it can affect you. We’ve prepared handy tips on how to keep your car battery from dying. Check it out below:

Why car batteries die

Car batteries are the heart of each car. It is responsible for providing power to start the engine and to all the electric components of the vehicle. If you don’t charge and maintain it properly, you are letting it die and put yourself in a stressful situation.

You might think that cold weather will do more harm to the car battery than anything else. Maybe it's because, during the cold season, weaker batteries will be pushed to its limit due to low temperatures resulting in lesser available amperage to crank the engine.

However, the literal battery killer is the hot weather. It is the main reason why the summer season poses more damage to the car batteries that the cold and rainy weather.

Car batteries are the heart of each car

Aside from extreme temperatures, a parasitic drain is also one of the most common reasons for a dying battery.  While a trickle charger can help you charge it back, the presence of parasitic drain will cause your car battery to die again.

Now that we know the most common causes of a dead battery, let’s now tackle the things that will prevent such a dilemma.

>>> Related: How to keep car battery from dying and everything you need to know

How to keep the car battery from dying?

There are numerous solutions to keep you from being stuck in the middle of a busy highway because of a dead battery. Here are some of the most helpful.

Keep the battery away from extreme heat

As we've mentioned above, too much heat will cause too much damage to your battery. It will dry up the battery fluid, which will potentially damage the internal structure of the battery and will push it in its limit.

During the summer season, the heat will probably drain the battery of your car. So, the best thing to counter it is to look for a shaded or cool parking area where you can leave your car safely. 

If you always do this, you will have a better car battery life expectancy. Doing so will also keep your car interior cool, so when you hop in, you don’t have to wait for the AC to take effect.

Too much heat will cause too much damage to your battery

Drive more often

Always remember that regularly driving your vehicle will give it more time to recover. Cars that are not used often have more chances of dying sooner than expected.

In fact, leaving your car idle for an extended period is more damaging than driving it for long trips and distances. It's because while driving, the alternator gets the charge it needs.

If you want to prolong the life of your car battery, we advise you to drive it as often as possible. Driving every three to four days is the most ideal as it will provide time to recharge the battery.

Always remember that regularly driving your vehicle will give it more time to recover

>>> Related: What you need to know about a dying car battery

Avoid plugging electrical devices as it drains your battery faster

Different electrical devices make our lives convenient, easier, and more comfortable. However, connecting these devices in your car will drain your battery, causing it to run out of power and eventually leave you with a dead battery.

MP3 players, DVD players, smartphones, navigation devices, and other types of gadgets are all electricity-sucking devices – which can drain your battery while driving.

Although we can’t avoid using these devices every time you’re on the road, the best thing you can do is to pay attention to the gadgets and accessories you plug in your car. It is a simple way to take care of your battery.

Connecting devices in your car will drain your battery

>>> Related: Will a dead and dying battery destroy your cars’ alternator?

Keep the battery terminals clean

Car batteries should also be cleaned and maintained the same way as your car exterior paint. The battery terminals should be your focus here.

Clean them using a toothbrush dipped in water and baking soda solution. Rinse or spray the mixture with cold water then dry it all over, using a clean cloth.

Regularly wipe the battery as well. You can use a cloth or even a paper towel to prevent the accumulation of power-draining grime.

Car batteries should also be cleaned and maintained the same way as your car exterior paint

>>> Related: 

• The Best Method on How to Clean Car Battery Terminals
• How you deal with the yellowish-white powder on your car battery

Invest in a car battery charger

Purchasing a car battery charger is a good investment. Doing so will stop you from worrying about leaving the vehicle idle during a work trip away from home or an extended vacation.

If you have a battery charger, you can prevent your car's battery from dying when you're not using it. Just remember that using fast chargers can result in car overheating.

So, when you plan to buy a car battery charger, make sure you check its quality. Also, check if it's easy to use so you won't have any trouble charging it on your own.  It's crucial that you choose wisely.

When you plan to buy a car battery charger, make sure you check its quality

>>> Related: Handy tips on how to charge and maintain car battery properly

Note that trickle chargers, the ones with floating mode monitoring, will charge car batteries slowly and will not damage the battery when it’s fully-charge.

Knowledge is power. If you know the right things to do to prevent your car battery from dying, then you won't have any future problems related to a dead battery.

The information we provided above will be a beneficial tool not only to prevent dead battery problems but to prolong the battery’s life as well. It will give you peace of mind and will save your car from further damage because of a dying and unstable car battery.

The way to prevent car batteries from dying is simple and very easy to do. You just need to be diligent in doing all of those.