Fareed's Auto Service Blog: Tips, Advice and More

Hello and welcome! My name is Fareed, and this blog is about car repair. I plan to write about smash repair, body work, painting and other aspects of the industry. I also hope to include a few posts that will help you assess whether or not something is wrong with your car. I have worked on my own car for years, and recently, I've been embraced as the neighbourhood mechanic -- all my friends come to me for help. I'm not a professional mechanic, but I feel confident sharing this info with you as I've been working on cars for years. I am happy you found my blog and hope that you enjoy reading!

Car Battery: How to Avoid Trouble

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There is nothing more frustrating that attempting to start your car and finding that the battery is dead. However, the battery on your car will often provide signs that it is failing before to stops working completely. Below is a guide to the signs that your car battery may be about to fail and some top tips on how you can extend the life of your car battery.

Signs Your Car Battery is About to Die

  • The engine is slow to start: If you turn the key in the ignition and only hear a clicking sound rather than the engine roaring into life, this is a sign that your battery is very low on power. The clicking sound is the starter attempting to start the engine. It cannot do so because the battery is not supplying enough power.
  • The "check engine" light is illuminated: If your check engine light is illuminated, this could be a sign that there is a problem with the battery. The computer system on your car will sometimes illuminate the engine light because of problems starting the engine rather than the battery warning light. If you see the "check engine" light, you should check the fluid levels and condition of your battery as well as your car engine.
  • Other electrical appliances in the car are malfunctioning: If you notice that the electric windows on your car are opening and closing slowly or that the interior light seems a bit dimmer than usual, this could be a sign that your car battery is low on power.

How to Extend the Life of Your Car Battery

You can extend the life of your car battery by taking a few simple steps to maintain it. 

Inspect for Signs of Damage

You should periodically inspect the battery for signs of damage. If you notice any damage, you should immediately have the battery examined by an auto battery repair shop. You should also ensure that the battery and battery cables are secured in place. A loose battery is likely to move about and become damaged. Loose cables can become disconnected as the car moves around.

Remove Corrosion

If you notice any corrosion which has built up on the terminals of the battery, this should be removed using bicarbonate of soda. Simply mix a little bicarbonate of soda with water until it forms a paste and then apply it to the battery terminals. Because bicarbonate of soda is an alkaline, it will slowly eat away at and neutralise the acidic corrosion.

If you have any questions or concerns about your car battery, contact an auto service centre today.

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11 October 2016