Don't Fall For Your Battery's Tricks

With the return to school and approaching holidays filling calendars, fall is a busy time of year. The last thing anyone needs is a battery problem, which can bring busy days to an inconvenient halt. Keeping your battery clean, along with regular maintenance, may be the key to preventing you from missing the big game, getting stuck in your driveway, or stranded in the grocery store parking lot.

Extreme weather puts a strain on your battery, shortening its life. The heat of summer evaporates critical fluids and can cause overcharging, while a cold snap decreases the power a battery provides – that’s why fall is a great time to remove any summer corrosion that may have collected, so your car will be all set when temperatures begin to drop.

To keep your battery operating reliably, have a AAA Mobile Battery Technician perform an inspection to determine your battery’s state of health. The technician will clean your battery cables and determine if it’s holding a charge, or overcharging due to a faulty voltage regulator or other issue. To keep yourself on track, schedule a battery check-up every time you change your oil.

A fully-charged battery will keep your vehicle on-the-go with confidence, as long as it receives routine care and maintenance, but remember, batteries don’t last forever; the average lifespan is 3-5 years, and can decrease depending on how it has been cared for, along with the requirements of your vehicle.

So, as the leaves start to fall, make sure your car is prepared for cooling temperatures, which can leave your battery drained, and your plans in a lurch. A little preventative maintenance will help keep your car going strong through the holiday rush, so you can enjoy friends and family during the most wonderful time of the year.

If your battery fails unexpectedly, AAA Mobile Battery Service will come to you, almost anywhere you are, and get you back on the road with a replacement battery, installed on the spot. To learn more about AAA Mobile Battery Service or to receive a free instant quote, visit AAA.com/Battery.