In the colder mornings, one of the most common reasons breakdown services are called out is because the car will not start. Often this is a simple fix, and it comes down to a problem with the battery. Many owners do not realise that there are many ways they can help when it comes to keeping their car battery health and avoiding those failure to start problems first thing in the morning.
What is the lifespan of a battery
It is important to remember that a battery is a consumable and does not have a long life, it certainly will not last as long as the vehicle itself. Potentially a battery can last up to fifteen years but this is exceptional, and it is more likely to need changing at around seven years. When looking for battery fitting, London drivers should consider popping the car to a garage as an ill-fitting battery can be the root cause of other problem and even damage the car. It is a task that can be done at home, but unless you are confident you could be doing more harm than good and the simple battery change becomes a more difficult problem for your car.
How to ensure your car battery works well
Firstly, a battery works best when the car is used regularly, so even if you are not going to drive the vehicle for a period you should try and turn the engine over and start it every day. If you have a week off from commuting to work, you should try and use the car to nip to the shops each day just to keep the battery healthy. It is not advisable to leave the car running stationary as this presents other problems, and is technically a breach of the highway code, so a short drive is the best course of action. The second most common reason is a faulty cell, and there isn’t really anything you can do to prevent that, if you are using the vehicle and have the battery professionally fitted, this is just something that happens occasionally.
The most common reasons batteries fail
Age still remains the most likely cause of a failed battery. As time passes, batteries experience something call sulphation, which means that the ability to hold a charge diminishes over time, and the battery, becomes prone to going flat. The cold weather can also have the same effect which is why these problems tend to appear more in the winter when temperatures plummet. So, if you are aware that your battery has seen a few winters, you might want to consider a new battery before the seasons change once more. You can get your car’s battery fitting in London, visit DAT Tyres, and the team there will be able to help with this. They can also do a car battery check-up, which can test the longevity of the current battery and provide guidance on when you should be making the switch to a new model.
