8001 Minnetonka Blvd.

952.931.9696

Mon-Thu: 7am -6pm
Friday: 7am – 5pm

6407 West Lake Street

952.922.9696

Mon-Thu: 7am -6pm
Friday: 7am – 5pm

Thank you for choosing D&D Autoworks for your vehicles’ service, maintenance and repair.

Check Your Vehicle’s Battery

by | Jul 2, 2013 | Auto Repair, Car Battery, General Car Maintenance, Vehicle Safety Inspections

It is important to check your vehicle’s battery, especially before long trips.  Making sure your vehicle is in for its regularly scheduled tune-up can also help reduce the chance of your battery going out at an inconvenient time.  We can test the battery to see the strength it has, and even charge it if it needs to.  With your battery in good working order, you can eliminate the fear of your car not starting when you might need it the most.

Why you should inspect your battery

In order for your vehicle to run, it needs a good working battery.  The most important thing you can do for the battery is to use it.  An idle battery can lose its charge and sulfate from the sulfuric acid inside the battery build up inside it.  This weakens its ability to keep and maintain a charge.  Even taking your vehicle out once a week will help keep the battery healthy, and will prevent it from dying unexpectedly.  The battery is dependent on the alternator, starter, and battery terminals in order to work properly.  A bad battery can affect your vehicle in negative ways that will add up to a costly repair bill if the battery is not inspected and maintained properly.

Signs of trouble with your battery

You will be able to notice issues of a bad battery.  The most obvious one is a dead battery.  You should always have the mechanic look at the battery and your vehicle because there is sometimes a weak alternator will cause the battery to appear like it is no longer able to hold its charge.  You should always have the battery examined when you go in for scheduled tune-ups and oil changes.  By testing the battery, you will have a better idea of when you might need to purchase a new one.  You can also look at the battery itself.  Corrosion or stains on the battery means you have a leak somewhere on it.  You can also look for buildup around the terminals as well.  Another way you can tell the battery is bad is the smell.  If you notice a rotten egg or sulfuric smell, it is the smell of the battery overheating.  By noticing any of these things, you should take your vehicle in as soon as possible to have it looked at to know the exact reason.

How to maintain your battery

Maintaining your vehicle’s battery is something you should think about year round.  While it is necessary to change the battery and replace one if it is a few years old, you should do all that you can to maintain the battery’s life to help save you money.  You should try and get the most long lasting battery that you can buy for your vehicle.  While they may cost more initially, they save you money in the long run by not replacing them as often.  It is also important to prolong the life of the battery as long as you can.  There are a few easy tips you can do to help this.  You can make sure everything in your vehicle is turned off.  Leaving your lights, stereo, and other equipment on while your car is not running can drain the life of your battery.  Turning all of these off when you are not driving is a good way to extend the life of you battery, and should be done at all times.  By doing this, you can keep the battery charged and it will save you stress, time, and money.