Car batteries are vital to your vehicle and can quickly drain or fail without proper maintenance. Poor battery health can lead to multiple automotive issues and damage to other parts of your vehicle. It is essential to routinely check your Tuscon, Elantra, or Palisade’s battery health to ensure your car battery is healthy and your vehicle is running smoothly. With most car batteries lasting around four years, follow these tips and tricks to extend the battery life in your car.
Infrequent and Short Drives
When your vehicle’s engine is on, the alternator recharges the car battery while you drive. Your vehicle needs to be decelerating and coasting for the alternator to work. Short drives under 20 minutes do not give your alternator enough time to recharge your vehicle, and they can drain the battery more than recharge it. Leaving your vehicle to sit for long periods will also drain the battery. Most newer and more modern cars have electronic systems set up to use power even when the engine is off, draining your vehicle’s battery. To ensure your car battery has enough time to recharge, we recommend taking your car for a long drive once a week.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Extreme weather conditions may cause an issue with your car battery. Especially if your vehicle’s battery is older, extreme heat or cold can cause the battery to drain or die completely. Excessive heat exposure can also promote battery swelling, leading to acidic leaks that damage other vehicle parts. It is best to park your vehicle in the shade on sunny days to avoid extreme heat conditions. If you are concerned about your car battery’s health or if your vehicle is experiencing any battery-related issues, ask for a complimentary multi-point inspection at a local Hyundai dealer near you, which includes a battery test.
Using Power Without The Engine Running
When the engine is off, the car battery powers the radio, headlights, clocks, and alarms without being recharged by the alternator. Using power without the engine running will drain the battery and could cause it to die. Ensure that your headlights are off or set to turn off at a particular time after parking your vehicle to avoid using power when the engine is off.
If your vehicle is experiencing battery-related issues, visit our service center near you at Jerry’s Hyundai, conveniently located at 3403 Fort Worth Hwy, Weatherford, TX 76087. You can schedule a battery service appointment with Jerry’s Hyundai on our website or call (682) 332-4586. Our service department is open Monday through Saturday and is here to help with your car battery or any other service needed! We are proud to serve our Weatherford, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Granbury neighbors. To learn more about car battery health, visit our Battery Service 101 page.
