How to care for and maintain your car battery

With such complex parts in it, it’s hard to believe that a battery can do so much to keep your car starting and running smoothly. Your car battery provides the electricity necessary to start your car and can supply additional power if needed. Without it, your car wouldn’t start and that’s why making sure it’s free of corrosion and well maintained is so important. While it’s a simple part to maintain, it’s easy to forget that it’s there and it still helps to know exactly what you’re doing. Thankfully, we at Toyota of Orlando got together with our auto service experts and put together a helpful guide on car battery maintenance for you!

Do’s and don’ts for your car battery

Your car battery is the key to starting your Orlando Toyota and we wouldn’t be able to start our cars without them. To keep you from having to call a tow truck, here are some easy maintenance tips to consider:

1. Keep the cables clean. Corrosion is a common issue that can plague a car battery in any Orlando Toyota vehicle. This occurs from things like an aging battery, one that’s overfilled or overcharged, hydrogen gases and/or electrolyte leaks, or a reaction from using copper clamps. Whatever the reason, corrosion can cause your car battery to under-perform and, ultimately, a failed start-up for your Orlando Toyota. Cleaning them is quick and easy! Simply remove the cables from the battery posts (remember to remove the negative cable first) and use a mixture of baking soda and bottled water with a wire brush to remove any corrosion.
2. Check the electrolyte level. While many car battery models in Orlando Toyota vehicles won’t require an electrolyte refill in their lifetime, some models do. To check the electrolyte levels, gently pry off the battery cell cover (typically on the top of the battery), look down the hole, and if the level isn’t covering the bottom of the compartment it’s time to add water. Be sure to use distilled or purified water to avoid adding minerals that could cause corrosion. If you have a no maintenance car battery, you can check the level by finding the indicator and looking for the color. Green means your levels are fine and darker colors mean you need a recharge. If you’re unsure, our auto service techs at Toyota of Orlando can help you out!

If you’re finding that your Orlando Toyota battery is having difficulty keeping a charge or you’ve suffered several failed start-ups, a replacement car battery will be in your future. But, to get you by until you replace your existing batter, here’s how to jumpstart your car:

1. You’ll need jumper cables and another car. You should always keep a set of jumper cables in your emergency car kit in case of situations like this. If you need a new pair, our parts department at Toyota of Orlando can get you taken care of! Be sure to enlist the help of another driver to get a successful jump. If you can’t find someone to help, there are always battery chargers that can be used as a substitute.
2. Get the two vehicles ready for a jump. For the jump to work, both Orlando Toyota vehicles need to be in park or neutral with the parking brake active.
3. Start with the positive end. Using the red jumper cable clip, attach it to the positive terminal on your car battery as well as the other you’re using for the jump. You can usually tell a positive from a negative terminal by a “POS” or “+” indicator.
4. Attach the negatives. Place the black colored clips on the negative terminal in the other vehicle and the other on an unpainted metal surface in your Orlando Toyota to act as a ground.
5. Start your engines. Ignite the engine in the working vehicle first and let it run for a few minutes. Then try to start your vehicle. If your Orlando Toyota won’t start after additional attempts, then it may be time to call a tow truck.

Let Toyota of Orlando fix your car battery

If general maintenance and jump starts can’t get you a charge, it may be time to get a replacement car battery. At Toyota of Orlando, our expert auto service department can replace your old battery and get you back on the road at an affordable price. Visit us at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall, seven days a week!