How to Make Your Car Battery Last Longer

 A car battery rarely dies without warning. It usually fades over time, and the car gets harder to start until one morning it won't. How long a battery lasts depends on the climate and on how you use the car, and heat is usually harder on it than cold. Here's how to get more out of yours.

A clean, tight connection helps the battery do its job.

Signs the battery is getting weak

The engine cranks slowly, the headlights look dim when you start, a battery warning light comes on, or you hear a fast clicking when you turn the key. Other signs are strange electrical behaviour, white or green crust on the terminals, or a battery case that looks swollen. If you see a swollen or leaking battery, don't touch it, and get it checked.

Habits that help

1. Don't rely only on very short trips. Starting the engine uses a lot of energy, and a short drive doesn't give the alternator time to put it back. Take a longer drive now and then.
2. Switch off the lights, the radio and any chargers before you turn off the engine, and don't sit with the engine off and the electronics on.
3. Keep the terminals clean and tight. If there's crust on them, switch the engine off, wear gloves and eye protection, and clean it off with a brush and a mix of baking soda and water. Disconnect the negative (-) clamp first, and reconnect it last. If you're not comfortable doing it, ask a garage.
4. Park in the shade when you can. Heat shortens battery life, and a battery that isn't held firmly in place can be damaged by vibration.
5. If the car will sit for weeks, use a battery maintainer (a smart trickle charger), or start it and drive it for a while from time to time.
6. Have the battery tested once a year, especially when it's a few years old. Many garages do a quick test for little or nothing.

Hybrid and electric cars

They still have a normal 12-volt battery, and when it fails the car can refuse to start or "wake up", even if the big battery is fine. The warning signs are similar. Leave anything that involves the high-voltage system to a qualified technician.

When it's time to replace it

Use the type and size your manual calls for. Some cars with a start-stop system need a specific kind of battery (such as AGM or EFB). And take the old one to a shop or a recycling point. Never throw a car battery in the bin.

General information only. Check your owner's manual, and ask a qualified mechanic if you're not sure.