How to Check a Car Battery

Checking a car battery is not very hard, but neither is it very easy. A battery in a car is the most important tool to make the overall functioning of the car efficient and smooth. Removing batteries, installing new ones, cleaning them, checking the batteries and selecting new ones is all part of keeping the battery at its ideal condition. You cannot afford to be relaxed with your car if it has old batteries. You need to check them because if the batteries cross the warranty period they can damage the engine and your car too. So checking the battery to see whether they are overheating or not or whether they are functioning properly or not is very important. If your battery is not checked timely you will be stranded on the roads. So let’s see how to check the battery.

Batteries are subject to wear and tear and so they should be checked regularly, because a battery if checked and cleaned on time will last longer and not get corroded or become unresponsive too soon. To check a car battery you need to carry out these guidelines and information stated below:

Smoking

When you smoke in the car, the acids and chemicals get deposited on the car battery, this can damage it so it’s recommended to clean the car battery and remove off all the powdery deposits on both negative and positive terminals. The deposits on your battery terminal are made by battery acids. Before you clean the deposits, remove both the positive and negative cables. To brush the deposits off the terminal and cable clamps, take a small amount of baking soda and sprinkle it on the affected area and clean it with a toothbrush or metal brush. Look for a spark after cleaning the terminal to know whether there is still some charge left in your battery.

Flashing Lights and no lights

If there is a light flashing when you open your car door, or a lamp in the trunk is visible, don’t get worried. Insert your key to ON. Check whether the radio, lights, music system, AC is working properly, if not then switch the equipment off and check for lamps and warning lights. If it doesn’t show positive functioning then your battery may be discharged, you need to replace it then. If your lights are on but the engine is not turning over and functioning poorly, then check the battery and charge it, if still it continues the in the same way then look around carefully to discover if the problem is with the starting circuit and/or ignition switch.

Weather

Cold weather may also damage your battery. In cold weather it is difficult to warm your car battery. Keep your battery completely charge and set your battery on a surface where you can prevent it from acid damage. Keep checking the cables on the battery, if the cables are loose or if they seem corroded, sparks can be caused and overheating may also be a problem. You will need to re-establish the positive and negative cables of the battery and if required, replace the battery with a new one.

I hope now you might have got enough information of how to check a car battery.

Photo Credits: Charles Williams

This post involves:

acids, baking soda, batteries, battery terminal, cable clamps, cables, car battery, car door, chemicals, flashing lights, music system, optimal condition, radio, toothbrush, warranty, warranty period, wear and tear

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Battery, Car Tips

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