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 batteries have a service period beyond which they can no longer perform optimally. For most brands, the service period falls between 3-5 years. Thus, replacing an aging car battery is advisable, especially when you start noticing performance issues. The reason is that timely replacements can save you the agony that comes with a dead battery. That said, car battery replacement can only be successful if carried out correctly. It means you must avoid certain battery replacements mistakes, as highlighted in this post.
Failure to Clean Cable Clamps — One of the most critical car battery maintenance tasks is cleaning the cable clamps and regularly inspecting them for corrosion. The reason is that corroded clamps reduce the amount of power a battery transmits to various car components. Therefore, when replacing a dead battery, you must inspect the clamps. If you fail to check the clamps and attach them to a new battery, corrosion might spread to the terminals, causing power transmission issues earlier than anticipated. In this regard, always clean both clamps to eliminate potential rust. Besides, apply grease or petroleum jelly on the clamps to keep corrosion at bay.
Improper Terminal Disconnection Sequence — Most car owners are unaware that haphazard removal and installation of car batteries can affect performance. The first thing that most motorists get wrong is the sequence of removing battery clamps. Ideally, you should disconnect the clamp on the negative terminal first, followed by the positive terminal. If you pull the positive terminal first and it inadvertently contacts metal parts on a car bonnet, you risk electrocution. Removing the negative terminal first neutralises the circuit, eliminating the chances of an electric shock. Additionally, remember to keep metallic tools away from a battery's top section since they could trigger a short circuit and cause fires and injuries.
Spilling Electrolyte Solution During Battery Removal — Car batteries have an electrolyte solution critical to energy production. However, due to the corrosive nature of the electrolyte, you must do everything to avoid spills and leaks. The best way to avoid such incidences is by keeping an old battery upright as you lift it out of its tray. If the electrolyte spills on a battery tray, it gradually eats away the new cell's shell, leading to leaks over time. Thus, always use steady hands to lift an old battery from its tray and clean the latter before installing a new cell.
For more information on car batteries, contact a company near you.
Share11 February 2022
