Car battery makes a very important part of a car, since it delivers electric power to various electronic components that the car boasts. However, the primary function of a car battery is to start, light and ignite the car engine. Now, we know how important a battery is for the proper functioning of a car! Like any other car component, battery also needs a good care. When it comes to take care of a battery, periodic checks and seasonal maintenance come at the top of your check-list. These will definitely increase the battery life as well as it will prevent occurrence of various issues. You can help your battery last longer with a little knowledge. First of all, you must know the signs of a failing battery, so that you can take proper measures to prevent it from being destroyed.

Here are a few common signs of a failing battery:

• Dim headlights when the car is idle.
• Problems in the ignition.
• When starter turns slow.
• Cracked fan belt.
• Dim dash lights.
• Short circuit in the electric wirings.
• Ineffective cooling inside the car.
• Improper functioning of various other electrical devices in the car.

After knowing the probable symptoms of a battery failure, it’s time to learn the actual causes of battery malfunction. With a bit knowledge of the causes, you will be able to take good care of your car battery, ensuring its prolonged life. Let’s have a look at the causes of battery failure:

• One of the most common causes of car battery failure is acid stratification. When the electrolyte on a stratified battery tends to concentrate at the bottom, it causes the upper half of the battery to be acid poor. Batteries often tend to stratify if kept at low charge and never get a full charge. Acid stratification reduces the overall performance of the battery.
• Short distance driving while running windshield wiper and electric heaters further contributes to acid stratification.
• Violent driving habits.
• Excessive use of various car electronics like car air-conditioner, car cabin lights or music system.
• Leaving the cabin lights open through the night, which consume a lot of battery power.
• Unnecessary use of car air-conditioner, especially when the car engine is idle.
• Car battery malfunction is also caused by factory defects.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 at 10:55 am and is filed under Maintenance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.