Check the battery
In the fall, it is worth considering whether the battery of your car is working. If in doubt, it is better to consult a specialist in advance. The law of the first cold night is absolute for dead batteries and is strictly enforced, and the punishment is the same for everyone: riding public transport to work.
In the fall, it is worth considering whether the battery of your car is working. If in doubt, it is better to consult a specialist in advance. The law of the first cold night is absolute for dead batteries and is strictly enforced, and the punishment is the same for everyone: riding public transport to work.
Therefore, it is recommended to be careful, especially since it is not always enough to simply charge the battery. You may need to invest in a new battery. Here are some practical tips from experts:
What must be done
– Before the winter season, be sure to check the operability of the vehicle's electrical system, i.e. state of charge at the battery and alternator terminals. Both values must be identical.
– Everything must be well tightened and clean, which means: the contacts and clamps must be cleaned and the nuts must be well tightened. The battery must be securely attached to the case with a lock. Lack of fastening can lead to cracks in the plates caused by impacts.
– Check the current consumption of individual consumers: alarm, starter, diesel glow plugs, etc. Determine what current the starter consumes at the peak moment, i.e. when starting the engine. If the power consumption exceeds the norm, for example, instead of 450 A it consumes 600 A, the battery wears out quickly.
– If the car is not used regularly, especially in winter, the battery should be charged prophylactically every 6-8 weeks.
– Top up electrolyte only with distilled water.
– All actions, except for the simplest ones, such as: cleaning clamps, adding electrolyte with distilled water, should be carried out only in a specialized battery service center.
– When “borrowing” electricity from the battery of another car, the correct connection system is: 1. the positive terminal of the battery with the positive terminal of the battery from which we take current. 2. The negative terminal of the battery, from which we borrow electricity from the "mass" of the body.
And what not to do:
– Do not use the battery if its contacts and alternator terminals are dirty or loose.
– Do not add electrolyte to the battery. The electrolyte "does not deteriorate". Water evaporates, which we replenish only with distilled water.
– Do not store a "dry" battery in a humid environment, as this may lead to oxidation of the plates.
The condition for trouble-free operation of the battery for at least three years is a technical inspection by a specialized service, and not by a mechanic or even an electrician. These workshops usually do not have good, specialized equipment with which to check, for example, the amount of current consumed by the starter when starting the engine.
The most common cause of battery failure is too low an electrolyte level. Just as effectively, the battery will make life difficult for the driver if the battery loses its connection to the car's ground. This remark applies primarily to old cars, where the ground wire, i.e. copper braid, exposed to salt, water and chemicals for many years. So, instead of buying a new battery, you just need to replace the ground cable itself.
