Battery Maintenance

Have you ever been running late for something important and climbed into your car only to find that the engine won’t start? Maybe you have gotten into the driver’s seat to go home after a long day and turned the key to start your car, but all you hear is the unmistakable, low, whining sound of a dead battery. There are few things more disappointing than getting in your car to go somewhere and learning that your car battery has died.

Dead batteries can lead to expensive service and towing charges, not to mention the price of replacing a battery. Keeping up with regular maintenance of your car battery can prolong its life and save you money over time. Willis Auto and Diesel Services in Lubbock, Texas, has some tips for drivers so you can avoid the high costs and frustration associated with dead batteries as well as the dread of being stranded.

  1. Clean the cables. Using household items like baking soda, water, and a nonmetallic brush, you can clean the top of your battery as well as corrosion from the top of your battery as well as the cables. Make sure you disconnect your cables (the negative cable first) and then gently clean the corrosion from the battery.
  2. Check your battery with some frequency to ensure that its terminal connection are clean, tight, and protected from the elements.
  3. Turn off lights and unplug accessories when you are not using your car.
  4. Test your battery to make sure it is charged. If needed, you can recharge your battery. To optimize battery life, Willis Auto and Diesel Services recommends that you test your battery twice a year.
  5. Check the electrolyte levels in your battery. This is a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. Each cell should hold a mixture that is even with the bottom of the well beneath the cap and above the top of the battery plates. Use distilled water as needed.

If you find yourself with a dead car battery, come see us at Willis Auto and Diesel Services in Lubbock, Texas. We will take care of you!