The last thing you need when heading to work, picking up the kids, starting a road trip, or just leaving the house is to be stuck with a car that won’t start. Nothing will put a damper on your day like a dead battery. Luckily, with just a little bit of routine maintenance and the occasional replacement, you can extend the life of your vehicle, avoid inconvenient breakdowns, and know when it’s time for a battery replacement. Learn everything you need to know to keep your vehicle powered up and ready to roll.

Why Car Battery Maintenance Matters

The battery within your vehicle is more than just a power source. It is the heart of your vehicle’s electrical system. The battery supplies this system with the crucial jolt of electricity it needs to start the engine and then powers everything from your headlights and dashboard to your radio and windows. Without a healthy battery under the hood, your car simply won’t run.

Car battery maintenance is important, though, as it helps to extend the battery life of your vehicle. Simple actions like cleaning the terminals of the battery and checking its voltage can help your battery last closer to five years as opposed to sputtering out at two to three years. Additionally, this type of maintenance can help you prevent unexpected breakdowns by catching problems early. Above all else, though, battery maintenance will save you money. They aren’t cheap, and neither are towing services on missed workdays, so just a few minutes of maintenance now can help you avoid those frustrating expenses.

Key Signs Your Car Battery Is Failing

Batteries rarely die without any warning unless you do something like leave your headlights on overnight. More often than not, a battery will show signs of trouble before completely giving out on you.

Keep an eye out for the following red flags that signal your car battery needs replacing:

• Slow engine crank: If you’re finding that your engine struggles to turn over, especially in the morning or after sitting for a few days, then it may have a battery issue.
• Dim or flickering headlights: If the headlights on your car appear weaker than usual, especially when idling, then your battery may be failing.
• Dashboard battery warning lights: Take notice of if the battery icon on your dashboard lights up as this will signal charging or voltage issues.
• Clicking sounds when starting the car: A clicking sound when trying to turn your car over is the tell-tale sign that a battery issue is occurring.
• Frequent jump starts: Needing to use jumper cables more than once in a few weeks is a major red flag.

If you choose to ignore some of the above signs, your automotive battery may die on you unexpectedly and leave you stranded, potentially unsafe.

How to Clean Car Battery Terminals

One of the most important maintenance tasks to take care of to keep your battery in working order is to clean the car battery terminals. Any corrosion on your battery terminals can interfere with the flow of electricity, but cleaning them is quick and easy, luckily. To get started, you will need safety gloves, a wrench, baking soda, water, a wire brush, a clean rag, and terminal protector spray.

Follow the steps below on how to clean battery terminals:

1. Turn off your car and remove the keys from the ignition.
2. Open the hood and locate the battery.
3. Disconnect the negative terminal first, marked with a minus sign and usually black, then the positive terminal, which has a plus sign and is red.
4. Inspect for corrosion, which, if present, you’ll likely see a white or bluish powdery substance on the terminal(s).
5. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a cup of water.
6. Dip your brush in the mixture and scrub the terminals and clamps until clean.
7. Wipe everything dry with your rag.
8. Apply petroleum jelly or terminal spray to prevent future corrosion.
9. Reconnect the terminals, starting with the positive and then the negative.

Generally speaking it’s advised to handle this maintenance every 6-12 months or whenever you happen to notice a buildup under the hood.

Maintenance 101: Checking Your Car Battery Charge

Beyond just cleaning your car battery to see if you have a weak battery, you should also ensure that it retains the right amount of charge that it needs. To do this, grab a multimeter from the nearest hardware store or a similar battery tester. If using a multimeter, set it to 20 DC volts and turn off your car. Pop the hood and connect the red probe on the multimeter to the battery’s positive terminal, then the black probe to the negative. Below is how to interpret the output:

• 12.6 volts or more: Fully charged
• 12.4–12.6 volts: Adequate charge
• 12.0–12.3 volts: Low and may need recharging
• Under 12.0 volts: Weak and a replacement is likely needed

Other battery testers can also measure cranking amps as well as overall battery health. Some even offer printouts of your battery status, which can help you narrow down its health even further.

How to Replace a Car Battery Safely

In the event that you find out after testing your battery that it needs to be replaced, it’s important to handle it both safely and correctly. To do this, you will need safety gloves and goggles, an adjustable wrench, a battery terminal cleaner, and a new battery of the correct size and specifications.

Once you are prepared, follow the steps below to replace your battery:

1. Park on a level surface and set the parking brake.
2. Turn off the engine and remove the key.
3. Disconnect the terminals with the negative first, then the positive.
4. Remove the battery hold-down bracket or strap.
5. Carefully lift out the old battery, but be careful as they can weigh up to 40 lbs.
6. Clean the battery tray and terminal clamps if needed.
7. Place the new battery in the tray, aligning the positive and negative terminals correctly.
8. Secure it with the bracket and connect the terminals with the positive first, then the negative.
9. Start the car to make sure everything works.

Knowing When to Replace Your Car Battery

By knowing when you’re likely going to need to replace your car battery, you can get the ball rolling by purchasing and installing the new battery before your old one actually dies and leaves you stranded somewhere. Be aware that extreme hot or cold can evaporate your battery fluids or slow the chemical reactions, respectively. Also, frequent short trips don’t allow the battery to be adequately recharged by the alternator, and long periods of disuse will result in the battery discharging naturally over time. Finally, running lots of accessories constantly can also strain your battery.

If, in conjunction with all of the above, your battery is reaching the three-year mark, you should begin to monitor its health more closely. Fall and spring are great times for battery inspections, especially if you live in an area prone to temperature swings.

How Extended Warranties Help With Electrical System Repairs

While a car battery is typically considered a wear-and-tear item and not covered under most warranties, many related electrical components that can fail or be damaged are eligible for coverage. This is where an extended warranty, more accurately called a vehicle service contract (VSC), can provide valuable protection. Endurance Warranty offers several auto protection plans, including the Superior, Supreme, and Secure Plus plans, which can cover critical electrical components such as:

• Alternator
• Voltage regulator
• Starter motor
• Starter solenoid and starter drive
• Ignition switch

Each of these components is an important part of your vehicle’s electrical system, even if it isn’t the battery itself. With an extended warranty in place and regular battery maintenance, you can keep the entire battery system operational for years to come.

Protect Your Car’s Electrical System With Endurance

While your car’s battery may not seem important at first glance, the minute it stops working, you realize just how crucial it is to your vehicle. With regular inspections, clean terminals, voltage checks, and timely battery replacements, you can avoid being stuck in a parking lot with a dead car. Always check your battery regularly and replace it when you notice the key signs that its lifespan is beginning to deteriorate.

On top of this, consider adding an extended warranty or vehicle service contract so that you can protect the electrical system of your vehicle even more. To learn more about which Endurance plan may suit your needs, contact one of our plan advisors at (800) 253-8203 or request a FREE email quote. You can also see your price and your plan recommendations right away on our online store.