Maintain a Car Battery in 5 Steps:
A car battery is the heart of a vehicle’s electrical system – knowing how to take care of it is vital to ensure its performance and longevity.
Most modern Toyota batteries are maintenance free and only require check-ups on your scheduled services. Nevertheless, there are precautions you can take to prolong your battery’s life and avoid breakdowns.
Follow these 5 simple steps to ensure your car battery is in its best condition.
HOW TO PREVENT A FLAT BATTERY
1. Make sure all lights are switched off
- Ensure you haven’t left any interior or exterior lights on when exiting your car.
2. Make sure all doors are closed
- Check you have securely closed all doors, including the boot – any doors left open will keep your interior lights on.
3. Make sure all accessories are switched off
- Ensure all electrical accessories are switched off before exiting your car.
DIY BATTERY MAINTENANCE CHECKS
1. Conduct a battery exterior check
- Check the battery for corrosion, cracks or loose connections.
- If the battery is corroded, wash it off with a solution of warm water and coat the terminals with grease to prevent further corrosion.
- If the terminal connections are loose, tighten their clamp nuts – but be careful not to over tighten.
- Ensure the battery is secure in the cradle by shaking it.
2. Top up electrolyte levels
- Remove the vent plugs and add enough distilled water to just cover the battery plate. Ensure you refit and secure the vent cap.
SIGNS THAT A BATTERY NEEDS REPLACEMENT
Hard to start the car
- If you are having difficulties starting your car or your drive is feeling slow and sluggish, it is typically a sign that you have a flat battery.
Dimmed interior dash lights and headlights
- If your interior or exterior lights are looking dimmer than usual, it may be a sign that your battery is running low.
HELP – MY BATTERY IS FLAT. WHAT DO I DO?
- Battery charger – top up your car’s battery with a battery charger.
- Jumper leads – give your battery a jump start by hooking your car up to another with jumper cables.
- Drive to your local dealer – once you get your car’s battery running again, drive to your local dealer to see whether your battery needs replacing.
