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Taking care of car batteries

Home Motoring Batteries Taking care of car batteries

Average Life

• Batteries have a limited life and on average will last from 3 to 3 ½ years.
• Once a battery starts to fail after 3years of age, it will very rarely respond to re-charging.

The Right Battery

• CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) describe the amps delivered by a battery at minus 18 degrees Celsius.
• CCA vehicle requirements vary depending on engine size and the accessories used by a vehicle, e.g. a V8 engine with power steering, air conditioning and an electric sun roof will require more CCAs than a four-cylinder vehicle with less accessories.
• To find out which battery best suits your vehicle, contact RAC Motoring Advice.

Maximum Life

• The new range of RAC batteries are maintenance free.
• However, the battery in your vehicle may still have old technology and require regular maintenance to ensure a maximum service life can be achieved.
  • Keep battery terminals clean and dry at all times.
  • Top up the electrolyte levels in your battery with distilled water only.
  • Ensure you maintain electrolyte levels but never over-fill your battery.
  • To ensure computer or radio memories are not lost, consult your car's owner's manual before disconnecting the battery.
  • Never leave your battery for long periods without being charged

Your Safety

• Always take extreme care when handling vehicle batteries, as incorrect handling can cause serious injury.
• Keep children and naked flames away from batteries as batteries contain sulphuric acid and may give off explosive hydrogen gases.