Bad Driving Habits That Damages Your Car Battery
Every car owner develops unhealthy driving habits, especially after a lifetime of driving, and driving habits are the primary factor that affects the lifespan of car batteries. Contrary to common opinion, poor driving practices rather than manufacturing flaws are the primary cause of damaged batteries. Bad driving habits can cause acid stratification and battery depletion, rendering the battery completely useless.
It is essential to stop these in time since a dead battery might cause the car to crash. If they are not promptly identified and fixed, you will be wasting your money on costly and unnecessary repair and maintenance bills.
Which Bad Driving Habits Should You Avoid To Save Your Car Battery?
The short lifespan of a car battery is caused by inappropriate handling and inadequate maintenance. Therefore; every driver needs to pay special attention to some of the most significant mistakes made while driving a car:
- Not repairing a defective car alternator:
- Using tap water for the battery:
- Overcharging the battery:
- Leaving your car parked for a long time:
- Leaving the car electronics ON while the car is idle:
- Driving frequent short distances:
- Turning the headlights ON before the car engine:
- Not going for regular car maintenance and servicing:
Your alternator is responsible for providing power to the car engine. So, if the alternator is not functioning well, the engine will shift to the battery for a power source. When your alternator malfunctions, it may stop rerouting electricity back to the battery once the engine has started. Therefore, a faulty alternator prevents the battery from being charged properly, which ultimately damages the battery.
When the water level in your car starts to run low, you can add water until you reach the appropriate water level for your battery. For this, even though using tap water may appear more convenient, doing so might harm your battery since it includes metal ions that can be quite reactive with electrodes and ions. In contrast, distilled water protects your battery since it can dilute lead acid, which is necessary for preserving the battery’s ability to conduct electricity.
While routine car charging is important for extending battery life, overcharging can result in greater issues which could be dangerous. Once overcharged, a lead-acid battery emits hydrogen and oxygen. The lifespan of your battery can be shortened as a result of these chemical reactions, or it can also result in an explosion.
When your ignition is off, your battery releases energy until it is completely discharged. Overusing your car may result in difficulties, but leaving it unattended for an extended period can drain the battery. Due to this, some customers can find it extremely challenging to start their long-time unused car. So if you do not drive or use your car much, it is advisable to do a regular warm-up of your car, go for a drive, and let the battery charge itself.
A car has many electronic components like AC, radio, lights, automatic door locks, etc. Keeping these devices ON while you are not driving the car excessively drains the car battery and does not offer it a chance to charge it. If this is done regularly, the battery can get damaged and its lifespan will be decreased. So do not forget to turn OFF all the electronics before parking your car.
A car battery charges itself automatically while driving and it usually takes 30 minutes to get sufficiently charged. When you drive your car for frequent short distances, the battery does not get enough time to charge itself which can lead to car battery failure.
This is something most people do not even realize that they may be turning ON the headlights even before starting the car engine. The car battery is put under extra strain when the headlights are turned ON before turning ON the ignition. This risks the lifespan of your car battery in the long run.
Most car owners only visit their mechanics when their engine breaks down or when they require any major repairs. However, much like other car parts, car batteries require routine maintenance too. Unchecked batteries often last for less time than anticipated since they may have been operating for a long period under unusual circumstances. The greatest method to maximise the life of your car battery while spending the least amount of money is to serve it regularly following the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Summing Up:
The car maintenance and driving advice mentioned in this article will help you take better care of your car and save money and time on pricey car battery replacement and maintenance services. So, stop these unhealthy driving practices that might ultimately “kill” your car battery.
Given that their service is maintained up to date, they are not driven recklessly, and they have some basic inspections in between, the majority of modern cars offer good performance across tens of thousands of kilometres.
A battery is an essential component of the car and understanding this, Swift Battery Specialist provides various types of car battery services for your entire minor to major repairs. Want to know more? Call us today!
