BY MATTHEW C. KEEGAN / ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 2, 2019 / NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS ASSOCIATION / Your car battery is weak and you don’t know what is draining it.&hellip;{"id":11255,"date":"2019-06-17T10:11:16","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T17:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/?p=11255"},"modified":"2019-06-17T10:13:11","modified_gmt":"2019-06-17T17:13:11","slug":"maintenance-tester-tips-and-tricks-on-how-to-check-average-indicator-age-and-preserve-extend-lifetime-car-battery-life-and-when-to-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/17\/maintenance-tester-tips-and-tricks-on-how-to-check-average-indicator-age-and-preserve-extend-lifetime-car-battery-life-and-when-to-change\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Preserve Car Battery Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\">BY MATTHEW C. KEEGAN \/ ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 2, 2019 \/\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napaonline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTS ASSOCIATION<\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">\/<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your\u00a0<\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napaonline.com\/en\/brands\/napa-batteries?cid=social_blog_promo_panel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">car battery<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">is weak and you don\u2019t know what is draining it. Likely, a combination of reasons is a factor here, including extreme weather and your driving habits. With care, you can extend battery life beyond the usual few years that it\u2019s expected to last. We\u2019ll take a look at how to preserve car battery life in an effort to reduce the risk of you someday becoming stranded.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Tips and Tricks for Preserving Car Battery Life<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can preserve battery life and have fun doing so. It\u2019s a game you can win by effectively delaying its replacement time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1. Make It Lights Out<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Turn off the lights when the car isn\u2019t running. Most modern cars have automatic headlights, which cut power when the ignition is off. For everyone else, you\u2019ll need to manually extinguish the lights. Every minute the lights are left on will reduce the battery\u2019s effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2. Protect Your Vehicle<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In extreme weather conditions, such as when temperatures top 100 degrees Fahrenheit or drop below zero, lead sulfate crystals quickly build up and will drain the battery. You can\u2019t control the weather, but you can protect your car by keeping it in a garage or other shelter. At the very least, isolate it from the wind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>3. Enjoy a Long-Distance Drive<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Nothing sucks the life out of a car battery more than short drives. Stop-and-go traffic increases wear and tear on all vehicle components. Take the occasional longer trip away from trafficked areas and the battery will fully recharge. Besides, you\u2019ll enjoy the change of scenery!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>4. Check the Alternator<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A faulty alternator can drain battery life and leave you stranded.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/23\/car-wont-start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Check the alternator<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">with a voltmeter while the engine is on and with all accessories and lights turned off. The reading should register between 12.5 and 12.8 volts. If you already ruled out the battery\u2019s condition, then a bad alternator diode, loose belts or a worn tensioner may be to blame.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>5. Inspect and Maintain the Battery<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yes, nearly every car battery today is maintenance-free. This means it comes sealed with the liquid packed safely inside. But \u201cmaintenance free\u201d only extends to the battery itself \u2014 you need to pop the hood occasionally and check the cable connections. If they\u2019re loose or corroded, then tighten or clean them. The problem isn\u2019t always the battery, but sometimes with the connection points.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>6. Turn Off the Accessories<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Today\u2019s vehicles have more accessories than ever before. Navigation systems, driver-assist technology, fog lights, security alarms, zoned climate control systems, and a host of other accessories are available. When not in use, the systems that are not safety-related should be turned off as each one drains the battery. Use them only as needed and preferably not at once.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Battery Lifespan and Replacement<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How long should a car battery last? That\u2019s open to debate, although battery manufacturers routinely warranty their batteries for three to five years. If your battery dies early, you\u2019ll typically receive a pro-rated credit toward the purchase of a new one. In the meantime, keep tabs on your car battery by using a multimeter to test its effectiveness. Allow the battery to sit idle for at least an hour before connecting. If it registers just 12 volts, then it may be time for a replacement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By following these tips, you can<\/span>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/knowhow.napaonline.com\/5-ways-to-extend-the-life-of-your-car-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">extend your car battery\u2019s life<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0a<span style=\"color: #000000;\">nd ensure that it\u2019s operating properly, reducing the risk of leaving you stranded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Check out all the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.napaonline.com\/en\/c\/electrical-systems\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>electrical system<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">products available on<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.napaonline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>NAPA Online<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">or trust one of their 17,000<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.napaautocare.com\/store-finder.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>NAPA AutoCare locations<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how to preserve car battery life, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.napaonline.com\/en\/store-locator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>local NAPA AUTO PARTS store<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Photo credit: Stefan Schweihofer (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/battery-jump-start-starter-cable-76568\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Pixabay<\/strong><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This article has been reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder, National Automotive Parts Association. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Click here for more<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><strong><em><a href=\"http:\/\/knowhow.napaonline.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">automotive tips and stories<\/a><\/em><\/strong><em>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">from NAPA, or here for more information on<\/span>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/event-info\/car-show-hours-dates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the next Pomona Swap Meet &amp; Classic Car Show<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":11260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[7106,7095,7091,7096,7098,7103,7100,7092,7101,7093,7099,7102,7107,7097,7104,7105,7094],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/maintenance-tester-tips-and-tricks-on-how-to-check-average-indicator-age-and-preserve-extend-lifetime-car-battery-life-and-when-to-change.png?fit=579%2C681&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9nnZN-2Vx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11255"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11255"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11264,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11255\/revisions\/11264"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}