car battery Archives

There will most likely come a time when you are required to handle a car battery in one way or another. When you do, if you aren’t careful, injuries -some more serious than others- may occur.

Virginia Auto Service AZ Blog: October is Auto Battery Safety Month

Prevent Blindness America states that every year there are around 6,000 eye injuries, including blindness, that is caused by auto batteries. This injury count is for the eyes alone, it does not include the numerous skin burns, hand injuries, and other possible injuries from the improper handling of car batteries. To bring awareness to the potential dangers of car batteries, October has been designated as Auto Battery Safety Month.

Proper knowledge of car batteries and battery safety is important because they contain sulfuric acid and produce hydrogen and oxygen gases that could cause the battery to explode if they come into contact with a spark. To remain safe when coming into contact with your car battery, please read on for our car battery facts and safety tips.

Tips for Maintaining the Battery

Check your battery for cracks, corrosion, and loose wires every time you change your oil.
Park in a garage. Both extremely hot and frigidly cold temperatures do a number on a car battery. Parking in a well-insulated garage helps limit the effects of the weather on the battery.
Drive your vehicle regularly. Leaving a car stationary for an extended amount of time affects your battery’s charge.
Avoid frequent, short drives. Starting the car continuously can be taxing on the battery. Group several short errands into one long car trip to avoid this.
Turn off/unplug accessories. As an example, if you leave a cell phone charger plugged in the battery will recharge continuously, which shortens its life.
Perform regular auto maintenance. Engines that are in poor condition can overload the battery.

Is the Battery Dying?

Most auto batteries will last two to three years. There won’t always be signs that the battery is dying, but sometimes the following will occur:

When you turn the key, the engine cranks but does not start.
Your lights aren’t working and the engine won’t start.
One day the engine starts and the next it doesn’t.
You have to jump-start it often.

How to Jump-Start Safely

Learn to safely jump-start a car battery with these tips from the Sight & Hearing Association and Prevent Blindness America:

Practice preventative maintenance by regularly checking your car’s battery for wear and damage, especially before winter and summer. Battery connections should be clean, tight, and corrosion-free.
Purchase a pair of jumper cables that are at least 12 feet long, color-coded, and tested and approved by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Always make sure they are in good condition before using it. Make sure they are rust and corrosion free before using them. Check that there are no exposed wires on your cables, and never use electrical tape to cover exposed wires.
Equip your vehicle with proper safety goggles (always wear a pair of splash-proof polycarbonate goggles when jump-starting your battery. Your goggles should have a Z-87 label on the frame. This means your goggles are certified use during auto repairs), a flashlight, and a step-by-step guide for jump-starting a car battery. Prevent Blindness America offers a free battery jump-start sticker in both English and Spanish on their website. The sticker can be placed under the engine hood or garage for future reference.
Never smoke or use anything that may spark when working on your battery. Car batteries contain hydrogen and oxygen, two gasses that could ignite and explode.
Don’t jump-start a frozen battery, allow the two vehicles or jumper cables to touch each other, or lean over the battery when making connections.
Turn off lights, heater, and all other electronic loads before jump-starting. You should also set the brakes in the park, make sure both cars’ batteries are the same voltage, and cover the vent caps of both batteries with a damp cloth.
Connect one red (+) clamp to the positive (+) labeled post on the dead battery. Make sure there is a strong and secure connection to the post of the dead battery.
Connect the other red (+) clamp to the positive (+) post on the good battery, again making sure the connection is secure.
Connect the black (-) clamp to the negative (-) labeled post on the good battery.
Connect the last black negative (-) clamp to a clean, solid, and unpainted metal surface in the engine of the dead car to ground the circuit. Do not connect the black (-) cable to the dead battery itself, but as far away from the dead battery as possible. Connecting the clamp onto the battery can cause an explosion.
Start the car with a good engine and wait for 2 to 3 minutes, then start the dead car.
Once the dead car is started, you can remove the jumper cables while the cars are running making sure to not let the clamps touch each other or fall down into the engine. Remove the cables in reverse order: Black dead car, a black working car, a red working car, and finally red dead car.
The car that had a dead battery should continue running for at least 30 minutes to let the battery recharge properly.

In the event of a Battery Related Injury:

Stop what you are doing and seek medical attention right away. For detailed information on how to treat an eye injury before heading into the doctor or emergency room for medical attention, click here.

If you have experienced any of the dying battery signs listed above, it may be time to schedule an appointment at Virginia Auto Service located on 7th St. between McDowell & Thomas. We can inspect your vehicle’s battery, and let you know what the issue is. Plus, we are trained in the proper handling of car batteries and proper battery disposal. Give us a call, (602) 266-0200, or schedule an appointment online.

Living in Phoenix, Arizona we have to handle extreme temperatures in the summer months. These temperatures can have a negative impact on our car batteries. Hot temperatures can cause the fluids in your car’s battery to evaporate. When this happens, the internal structure of the battery is weakened. Because of the heat, car batteries usually only last up to three years here. We may not be able to do anything about the summer heat, but there are things we can do to help protect our car batteries and keep them going for as long as possible.

7 Tips To Prolong Your Car’s Battery Life

Here are seven tips to help you avoid being stranded with a dead battery this summer, and year round:

1. Keep it Clean and Free of Corrosion

Corroded Battery Terminals

A battery that is clean and free of corrosion works better than one that is dirty. Corrosion often builds up on the terminals, which blocks the current from passing from the battery to the cables. You should check for corrosion at least once a year before the hotter months. However, it isn’t a bad idea to give it a go over at each oil change. The corrosion can be scraped away with a wire brush or scouring pad. Be sure to brush the corrosion away from you. There are also various battery cleaners available to clean both the terminals and the battery case. There is also a chemical compound that neutralizes battery acid, a 50-50 mixture of baking soda and water. Once the acid is neutralized, rinse the battery with water. However, if it appears seriously corroded, you should probably call a professional to help. The top of the battery should be clean of oil and heavy dirt to reduce the risk of electrical transients between the positive and negative posts, which will result in a quicker discharge. After the battery is clean, tighten the clamps then start the ignition. You may find that your battery is performing better, or that a “dead” battery is not actually dead. You can take preventative measures by using corrosion preventative spray and terminal protectors.

2. Avoid Taking Multiple Short Trips

Starting the car continuously can be taxing on the battery. The less often you are starting the car, the less work the battery has to do. This is not saying to let your car sit, however. It does need to run on occasion in order to hold a charge. Try and wrap several short errands into one longer car trip to avoid restarting the car multiple times in a day. Or, weather permitting, walk or ride a bike.

3. Insulate the Battery

Your battery should be insulated from extreme temperatures with a car battery insulation kit. Insulation sleeves keep your battery warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which can help prolong its life. These insulation sleeves are usually an acid and thermal resistant material that insulates your battery but still allows it to vent. If you need to buy a new battery, consider getting a smaller size so that you can fit the insulation sleeve around it. Your battery will more than likely last longer this way than buying a larger battery that has nothing protecting it.

4. Turn Accessories Off

Avoid draining the battery. Don’t leave the A/C, radio, wipers, lights, etc. on when you shut off the vehicle. Leaving them on regularly could discharge the battery, which will then require a recharge. Constantly recharging the battery could shorten its life.

5. Make Sure It’s Secure

Make sure the battery doesn’t vibrate. A battery that shakes can become damaged and/or short circuit and possibly cause damage to your car. Inspect battery terminals regularly as loose connections can cause you to breakdown.

6. Don’t Let It Sit

Make sure you drive your vehicle on a regular basis. Leaving a car stationary for an extended amount of time affects your batteries charge. If your car is going to sit for a period of two or more weeks, it may be a good idea to invest in a battery tender/charger. These help your battery maintain an optimum charge level when it’s not in use.

7. Service Your Engine Regularly

When an engine is in poor condition it can overload the battery and reduce its life. Regular engine maintenance helps keep your battery running for longer.

Remember to always work safe when you are dealing with a car battery. You should have on protective eyewear and remove all jewelry. It is also good to wear long sleeves to protect your arms from an explosion of battery acid.

If you are ever uncertain about what is going on with your car’s battery, or have any other vehicle related concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Virginia Auto Service at 602-266-0200. We are always happy to be of service.