CONSIDERING CHANGING YOUR CAR BATTERY? HERE ARE 11 CRITICAL THINGS TO KNOW.
- With proper care, a car battery can last five years on average. If you live in a hot climate, however, battery failure can occur in as little as three years.
- Some leading causes of premature car battery failure include chronic overcharging (or undercharging), abuse, and excessive vibration.
- Even when your car is parked, its computer systems are creating a small—but constant—drain on your car battery.
- Before changing your car battery, consult your owner’s manual. Set aside approximately 30 minutes to complete the job.
- It’s important to find the correct replacement battery. To eliminate guesswork, bring your old battery with you to your nearest Canadian Energy location.
- Your new car battery should be fully charged before installation; otherwise, you risk overloading and/or damaging the charging system, as it’s not designed to recharge a dead battery.
- The order in which you disconnect the dead car battery’s cables is key: Always disconnect the negative cable first.
- To lift the dead battery out of the car, you’ll have to remove the battery hold-down or clamping device.
- Car batteries contain electrolyte solution, which is an extremely corrosive acid. Keep the battery in an upright position to prevent this solution from leaking.
- After placing the new battery in the battery tray, secure it with the hold-down or clamping device. This helps to reduce vibration—one of the key contributing factors in premature car battery failure.
- Check the battery cables for corrosion and, if necessary, clean them. Apply grease or petroleum jelly under the clamps to prevent further corrosion.