Here Comes Winter fIRST, tEST yOUR bATTERIES!

Here Comes Winter! First, Test Your BatteriesYour car battery is a hard worker, especially in today’s auto era. With so many electrical gadgets in cars, it’s hard for a battery to keep up and stay in good health, and that’s why it needs your help.
Maintaining the connection from the battery to your car is an important step. This can be done by making sure the cables, posts, and fasteners are in good shape and free from corrosion. If there is some needed cleaning, grab a steel wire brush and scrape off any debris or corrosion. Finally, it’s also good to check if the battery is secure in its battery tray to prevent excessive vibration.
After physically checking the battery, it’s important to have your electrical system, alternator, and battery tested. Then, it’s advised to use a voltmeter to test the battery’s power output. Generally, a battery should operate around 12.4 volts or higher. This process should not only prevent any hazards down the winter road but help extend your battery’s life.
Three helpful battery facts:

1. Heat affects your battery life. Most people worry about their battery’s condition with the cold temperatures of winter. However, the heat is the true enemy to your battery, which makes it even more important to test it before winter arrives.
2. Battery’s don’t always give warning signs before they fail. Just like that dishwasher you said has worked perfectly for 15 years and then dies out of nowhere, battery’s can unpredictable.
3. Short trips that don’t allow the battery to charge all the way can increase its depletion, especially during the winter.