Battery Basics

The humble battery is a low-profile "creature" that stays well hidden under the hood. And like most well-hidden things that stay out of sight, it is soon out of mind. Unfortunately, this animal has a critical role to play; when it gives up the ghost, you can't even get your car started. So pay attention to your car battery.

Lifespan

The normal lifespan of an angelfish is 10 years, and the normal lifespan of a blue whale is 80 years or thereabouts. What's the normal lifespan of a car battery, you ask? Good question!

Where vehicle maintenance is concerned, "normal", more often than not, exists only in theory. Many are wont to say that the average lifespan of a battery is four years, but this claim makes a number of assumptions. It assumes that the battery goes through full charging cycles, isn't subjected to extreme temperatures, is attached to a reliable and consistent charging system, isn't providing power for a slew of in-car accessories, and that your car doesn't frequently go on rough trips that send the whole chassis vibrating non-stop.

In real life, however, short trips (which are hardly effective for replenishing batteries) are a frequent occurrence, and an ever-increasing array of navigational devices, MP3 players and whatnot decks the dashboards of many cars. The "normal" battery, therefore, is somewhat like most other archetypes - it exists only in the abstract.

What you can do is to use the four-year threshold as a guide, and start keeping a lookout for battery problems from the third year onwards.

Signs of trouble

Here are some diagnostics to help you spot an ailing battery before it goes kaput:

• Monitor your car's performance. As your battery loses power, you may see your headlights looking dimmer over an extended duration, or dimming considerably when the engine is started.
• Look out for reduced airflow when you turn on the air-conditioner.
• When cranking the engine, it takes longer than usual to start the car, or you have to make several attempts before you succeed.
• Do physical checks. Open the hood, locate the battery and check for corrosion and stains.
• Look for material building up around the battery terminals.
• Smell the battery. If you detect an odour of rotten eggs, there's probably a crack and sulphuric acid is leaking out.

Maintenance

To ensure that your car battery maxes out its lifespan, you'll have to do regular checks and maintenance:

• Check that the terminals of the battery are free of dirt and corrosion. If necessary, clean the terminals with a wire brush until all the corrosion is gone. Then wipe the terminals clean with baking soda paste.
• For batteries that can be opened, make sure the water level in the battery reaches the filler neck. Add distilled water if you find the water level low.
• Test the charge of the battery routinely with a multimeter. This should be done as part of a vehicle-maintenance regime.

Source: The Straits Times Saturday, November 27 2010