BATTERY TIPS

 1. A parasitic draw is anything that uses energy from the vehicle in your car or truck. Some parasitic drain is perfectly normal in order to power things like interior lighting, clocks, radio settings and alarm systems. The problem occurs when your electrical system isn't functioning properly. Issues such as faulty wiring, bad fuses or interior lights that fail to shut off will continue to drain your battery while it's idle.

*** What You Can Do About It ?

- How do you stop a car battery from draining when not in use? You can avoid parasitic drain on your battery by unplugging optional equipment such as cell phones and chargers when you park your vehicle for the night. You can also turn off every light in your vehicle and make sure that your trunk, glove box and doors are all fully closed and latched before leaving your vehicle.

DRIVING HABITS

2.  The way you drive has a significant impact on your battery. Your battery expends an enormous amount of energy starting your engine, which is then recharged by your alternator while you drive. If you take a bunch of short trips in a row, however, the alternator doesn't have enough time to recharge your battery, which will continue to be drained each time you restart your vehicle.

***What You Can Do About It?

- Be sure to vary your driving by taking longer, uninterrupted trips in between shorter stops. While the amount of time needed will vary from vehicle to vehicle, driving your car for about fifteen minutes should be sufficient to replenish the energy used to start the engine.

BAD ALTERNATOR

3. Since your alternator is responsible for recharging your battery, it stands to reason that if your battery isn't performing properly, the alternator may be at fault. What are the signs of a bad alternator? 

* Dim or overly bright lights 

* A consistently dead battery

* Slow or malfunctioning accessories 

* Trouble starting or frequent engine stalling 

* Growling or whining noises when starting the vehicle 

* Smell of burning rubber or wires 

* Battery warning light on the dashboard lights up

***What You Can Do About It?

- Have your alternator tested as soon as possible to see if it's the problem. Obviously, if your alternator is down it's going to be hard driving your vehicle to a mechanic. For some vehicles though, it is possible to jump start the engine with a bad alternator. If you can generate enough electricity to run essentials such as the onboard computer, fuel pump and fuel injectors, you should be able to drive it to the nearest repair shop.

Extreme Weather

4. Both high heat and extreme cold can have a negative impact on your auto battery.

Heat issues:

• Evaporation: Under the hood, a car battery can reach internal temperatures of 140 degrees or higher. This causes the fluid inside it to evaporate, damaging your battery's internal structure.
• Overcharging: High heat can cause the voltage regulator or other charging system components to malfunction, overcharging the system and killing your battery.
• Corrosion: Extreme temperatures cause your battery's internal lead plates to corrode, leading to deterioration.

Cold issues:

• Reduced Capacity: At 32 degrees, your battery's capacity drops by 20 percent. At -22 degrees, it can drop by 50 percent.
• Thicker Engine Oil: Cold temperatures cause engine oil to thicken, forcing your battery to work harder to turn over the engine.
• Reduced Recharge Rate: Remember how we mentioned that your alternator recharges your battery? Well, in lower temperatures, your battery recharges slower, meaning you have to drive further to charge it back up.
• Load Increases: We tend to use more applications during the winter to help offset the cold and keep the windshield clear. Running things like the heater, windshield wipers, defroster and seat heaters increases the load on your battery, causing it to recharge even slower.

***What You Can Do About It

In summer, park in the shade as often as possible to help keep your vehicle's temperature down. In winter, park your car indoors if you have the option. Since both heat and cold can drain your battery, you may want to use a charger when your vehicle's not in use. If you live in an area prone to extreme temperatures, you

 may want to invest in an AGM Battery that is designed to perform in a broader range of temperatures.

Your Battery is Too Old

5. If none of the issues already mentioned are at fault, it's possible you have a bad battery on your hands. A vehicle battery typically lasts between three and five years. If your battery is older than that, it may be time to replace it.