Your Battery Needs Attention, Too

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Donna McCord

Your car is starting just fine and everything is working as it should, so why be concerned about your battery until it stops working for you?

Here is what you should know: batteries deteriorate over time from normal use, and the condition of a battery should be checked regularly as part of a complete automotive service. This is easily done by performing a load test on the battery using a special piece of equipment that is connected to the battery. This equipment applies an electrical load to the battery for 15 seconds at which time the voltage of the battery is measured. A healthy battery’s voltage needs to be at or above 9.7 volts. If the voltage measures below 9.7 volts, the battery is considered unreliable and may fail to start the vehicle at any time.

It is also important to know that a weak battery causes the vehicle charging system to work harder than designed and will result in the alternator failing sooner, which is a much more expensive repair than replacing the battery.

A competent repair/service facility performs the battery check for their customers and advises them to install a new battery before they become stranded somewhere. During the winter, for example, it is important to know that a healthy battery at 80 degrees outside temperature has only half of its output at 0 (zero) degrees, so it is important to check a battery before traveling in any cold climate.

As for the expense, batteries come in all shapes and sizes and quality levels. Generally, the lower the cost of the battery, the shorter the service life. It is important to purchase a battery that matches your vehicle’s manufacturer-recommended size and power. There is no “one size fits all”. What is inside the battery, called plates, dictates the quality; the size and number of plates in a battery determine how many amps it can deliver, as well as its service life, its warranty and its price.

Lastly, the battery needs to be installed correctly. The cables that connect the battery to the vehicle must be free of corrosion and connected properly. If the cables are connected to the battery in reverse order, the vehicle’s computers will be damaged.

So, yes, even if your vehicle still starts and runs, the battery could be on its last legs, and a good quality, long-lasting battery will cost more.

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  • http://www.bexsi.com Doug Crowe

    Great advice. I had an airplane for 3 years and there was a mandatory replacement of the battery at regular intervals, regardless of the condition. Like all things mechanical and chemical, preventative maintenance is always less expensive than after care.

    Thanks for the advice.

  • http://www.stencilmedia.co.uk Scott Edington

    Some great advice there. I suppose it’s not something you really think of that often, but as you say if it’s more likely to go when it’s cold then the last thing you want is a flat battery in the middle of winter when you’re miles from anywhere!

    Thanks.

  • http://www.mywealthspa.com Darcie Newton

    I generally leave this stuff to my husband but I’m feeling empowered by the information you are providing. It is true that knowledge is power. Thanks for taking the time to educate me. Now I can’t claim “I just don’t understand how all that stuff works”…

  • http://louiseedington.wordpress.com Louise Edington

    Do most garages test this as part of a routine service or should we be making sure they do? I’ve had more than one battery die on me in my life and I didn’t know that they were straining the system before it got to that point. More useful info – thanks Donna!

  • http://www.myshoppinggenie.com/pstd Lisa Ann Landry

    I learned some hard lessons about battery life living in the Arizona dessert – batteries go really fast there. May have something to do with 125 degree weather for months at a time.

    Lisa Ann Landry – Corporate Trainer – Unleashing the Genie!

  • http://www.bourncreative.com Jennifer Bourn

    Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about this with my cars! Lucky to have a husband who takes care of all of my cars needs for me… only have had my battery die once when one of the kids left the car door open and it was not a good experience at all! Tell me … does giving another person a “jump” hurt your battery at all?

  • http://www.atticusuncensored.com Heidi Alberti & Atticus

    Donna, I think I need to move back the bay area… and, YOU, will be my mechanic! Thanks for more helpful auto information

  • http://www.billbrowning.com Bill Browning

    I’m mechanically disinclined so this is good advice. I’ll check my battery the next time I go out. I must admit I haven’t checked it since the last battery went out.

  • Donna McCord

    Hi Bill, if you have an auto shop you trust, have them check it for you. They should have the correct equipment to do a load test, which is what is needed to correctly evaluate the health of your battery.

  • Donna McCord

    Thank you! It is really important to us to make sure our customers (and anyone else for that matter!) know as much as possible to stay safe on the road.

  • Donna McCord

    You are welcome!

  • Donna McCord

    Well, you made my day! We love to have customers like you! So if you ever do end up back here, come visit!

  • Donna McCord

    Yes, Lisa, temperature extremes do shorten a battery’s life!

  • Donna McCord

    You are welcome, Louise! And if a shop is doing their job, they absolutely should be checking that for you at each service. If they are providing you with a detailed invoice, something should be mentioned about doing that and what the results of the check were. I would definitely ask if they are including that in their service, and if not doing it routinely, you have every right to request that they do.

  • Donna McCord

    I am so glad to be able to help remove the mystery around cars….In the past, I have always just left this stuff to the men in my life, but since working with my husband in this business, have learned a lot that does make me feel more empowered, too. I love being able to share what I know with other women who generally don’t trust auto repair shops!

  • Donna McCord

    It is good to have a husband that can take care of all that stuff! Especially when you have kids, you want to make sure that you don’t get stranded somewhere. Giving jump starts is fine when you are in an emergency situation, as long as everything is connected correctly — if things aren’t hooked up right it can cause the battery to be damaged, so just make sure the cables are connected where they should be! Also, jumping your battery is something that should be reserved for emergencies…to do it frequently can cause damage to the whole starting system — the need to do it frequently also indicates a problem that should be looked into as well!

  • http://www.davesaunders.net/blog Dave Saunders

    More great tips. I ran the battery down completely in my truck, while it sat in the garage for a year, and thought it was totally dead. After charing it and then driving regularly again it seems to be working ok, but I don’t know what that means in terms of battery condition. I’d hate to get stranded so I’m going to have it checked out.

  • http://www.Treatemright.wordpress.com Jean Bentley

    Great pointer! It stinks to get in to your car / truck to realize the battery is dead.

  • http://home-decorating-makeovers.com/ Jennifer Duchene

    So many fascinating parts to a car. Each and every one seems to need different handling. Good to know that batteries while included, do need to be checked. Interesting that they function differently in cold weather, just like humans! I love all the knowledge you share from under the hood, Donna! This is life lessons.

  • http://www.brucebarone.com bruce barone

    Who knew!

    And you make this all sound so interesting. Thank You!

  • http://www.ourlittlebooks.com Candace C. Davenport

    Well to me a positive post is one where I learn as much in the post as from the comments. Thanks for taking the time to answer each post and provide additional info in your comments. Good stuff!

  • Donna McCord

    Thank you, Jennifer; I am happy you can get something from the information I provide!

  • Donna McCord

    Thank you, Dave; yes, it is a good idea to take it somewhere that can do a load test for you and also check the connections, etc.

  • Donna McCord

    You are welcome, Bruce! I am happy to know what I write can be of interest!

  • Donna McCord

    Thank you for reading and commenting, Candace; and you are very welcome…please don’t hesitate to ask questions any time!

  • http://nutritionevolution.net nutrition evolution

    Although I don’t currently have a car, this is great advice. Dead batteries are no fun and often happen at the worst possible moment. Thanks, I’ll pass it on.

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