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A dead 12-volt battery is the most common cause of car breakdowns. It can be prevented with the right care.
Im Winter the car battery does the hard work. The chemistry suffers from the cold, at the same time lighting, seat heating and the like need to be supplied with electricity. Anyone who follows five rules relieves the energy storage and keeps it healthy for a long time.
switch off consumers
If the waste heat from the engine has warmed up the interior, the seat heating can be switched off. The rear window defroster is deactivated when the ice is gone. But in some cases that is not enough. Above all, anyone who has connected accessories such as a sat nav, cool box or camera should disconnect the power supply after parking. Otherwise, consumers will continue to draw electricity. The same applies to devices connected directly to the battery, such as anti-marten speakers. Especially in older cars, defective bulbs or switches can also cause a secret loss of power. In such cases, a battery disconnect switch under the hood can help.
Avoid short trips
Anyone who drives their car frequently only over short distances not only damages the engine, but also the battery. On the way to the bakery or to the ATM, the generator barely manages to compensate for the considerable power requirement when the engine is started, so that the reserve in the battery slips more and more into the red. If the lights, heated seats and radio are also switched on, the deficit grows even faster. It is better to walk short distances on foot and in between to insert a longer stage. At least until the engine is really warm. The engine is happy about that.
Charger for the car battery in the event of a longer standstill
Even without an electrical consumer, the battery constantly loses voltage. At some point the battery will be empty and no longer provide any power. Anyone who knows that they won't be driving for a long time - for example because the metal sheet of a vintage car shouldn't come into contact with road salt - is therefore best connected to a charger with a maintenance function. If there is no socket available in the garage, the battery is removed and connected close to the power source.
Remove dirt
Nice on the outside, ugh under the hood: Quite a few car owners neglect the engine compartment when it comes to caring for them. It is worthwhile cleaning the battery, including contacts and connections, from time to time. Otherwise, moisture can accumulate, which can promote leakage currents and the slow discharge of the battery.
Load when weak
Rarely do car batteries go dead from one day to the next. The loss of performance is usually announced over days and weeks. If the starter only reluctantly starts the engine or the light flickers visibly, this is an indication of the beginning of weakness. You can also check the condition of the battery by switching on the light when the engine is switched off. If it decreases in intensity after a short time, this is due to the decreasing tension.