Caring For Your Car Battery and Jump-Starting a Vehicle
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Knowing about your car battery is important for the safety and maintenance of your vehicle. A car battery won't last forever. However, knowing how to properly maintain it will help you avoid problems and keep your battery operating for as long as possible.
The battery is relatively easy to spot under the hood. It is a square or rectangle box that has two cables coming out of the top or back. These cables should be clean and free of any corrosion, which can appear as a white powder or crystals. The batter is the power center of the car, and stores enough to ensure it starts. Things like the radio, clock and alarms have continued power when the car is turned off, thanks to the battery.
A 12-volt battery is made up of two 6-volt cells with layers of positively and negatively charged lead plates and insulated separators. The cells are filled with an electrolyte solution, which is usually made up of 2/3 distilled water and 1/3 sulfuric acid. The interaction of the plates and the electrolyte solution produces a chemical energy that is converted into electricity.
You should always be careful when handling a car battery. It can produce explosive gases. Always wear protective glasses and gloves when handling a battery, and avoid creating a spark near it. Use a flashlight, not a match or lighter, to look under the hood of your vehicle.
In most cases, you'll need to replace your car battery every 3 - 5 years, depending on your driving habits and how often you start and stop your engine. Other factors like climate can also determine how often you'll need a battery replacement.
If your battery seems sluggish or if the car has trouble starting, the battery may need a jump. A jump-start can be achieved by attaching jumper cables to a working battery to yours. Attach the positive (red) cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery first, and then attach the other end of the positive cable to the positive terminal of the working battery. Then attach the negative (black) cable to the negative terminal on the good battery, and attach the other end to a metallic part of the engine block. You should not attach the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery. Start the engine in the vehicle with the good battery. Let it idle for a few moments before turning on the headlights in the vehicle with the dead battery. Turning on the lights will absorb any voltage spikes that can cause damage to a vehicle's computer. Then you can start the engine of the car with the dead battery. Once the engine is started, carefully remove the cables in reverse order, not allowing the clamps to touch.
If you take care of your car's battery and know what to do when it needs a charge, it will serve you well for many years.
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