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When you have your general car maintenance done, are you including your car battery? If not, you are missing one of the most important parts of the car. The battery can be considered the heart of the car. If the heart is not pumping, then the body does not function. If the battery is not functioning, then the car will not move. It is very important that you include the battery as part of your inspection so that you will be able to make it throughout the spring traveling season.

What is the Battery and What Does it Do?

The car battery is a square box with terminal points on the top. The box is a container that had alternating plates of lead and a lead compound that is submerged in a sulfuric acid solution. Power is generated when the lead and lead compound plates chemically react with the sulfuric acid. This reaction generates electricity with travels up the terminals and out to power the car. This process continues constantly as the battery discharges and recharges. The battery works in tandem with the alternator and power the entire car and all of the systems it contains. The alternator has the task of converting the electricity that the battery generates into a form of electricity that can be used by the car. The battery and alternator are monitored by the electrical system, which could be considered the brain of the car body.

Inspecting the Battery

When you inspect the battery, you should make sure that you clean off the battery case and terminals. Remove any dirt, debris, and corrosion that may have collected on the top and terminals. Just keeping the battery and terminals clean can help your battery last longer. A dirty battery cannot deliver electricity as effectively as a clean one and it can cause a loss of power. You can use a voltmeter to determine how much power your battery is wielding. If you see that the battery is low in power, you can replace it. When you replace it, make sure that you take in your old battery. The auto parts store and your mechanic are great sources to return your battery for recycling or disposal. You should never discard your battery in the landfill or the dump and you should not store the battery. A stored battery will eventually begin to leak and cause damage to the surrounding surfaces. Batteries disposed of in the landfills could leak chemicals out into the ground where it can contaminate the ground and drinking water.

Maintain the Entire System with the Car

You should always include the battery when you complete your general car inspections, and your inspections should be occurring on a regular basis. You will have better control over the health of your car, your fuel efficiency, and your car repair costs. The inspections will give you a good way to monitor the parts of your car, and you can better estimate when it is time to do any kind of auto repair, whether it is brake repair, radiator repair, or some other car repair. Your spring will go a lot smoother if you maintain your car and you will be able to safely make it to all of your destinations.