Keep Your Nissan’s Battery Hale and Healthy with These Tips

Taking some simple steps to care for your car battery will not only extend the life of your Nissan’s battery but will also delay the inevitable flat battery. The weather can also have an impact on your car battery. Car batteries are more likely to fail in the summer than in the winter. Heat can hasten chemical activity.

Have you had your battery tested recently?

If not, now would be an excellent time to visit us for a complimentary battery inspection as part of your service.

Don’t Leave Your Nissan Unused for Long

Cars are designed to be driven; leaving them parked for an extended period of time is neither recommended nor encouraged. Batteries, in particular, must be used or they will go flat. So, if you’re leaving your car for more than a week, and especially if you’re leaving it for longer – perhaps you’re moving for work or going on a long vacation – consider taking the battery out and fully charging it before putting it back in when you’re ready to get back on the road.

Turn Off and Disconnect Electronics

Car chargers and power adapters are fantastic because they can not only charge your phone or power a GPS unit, but they can also power portable DVD players. This isn’t a problem when your car is running with the engine on, but be cautious when you turn it off or leave it on auxiliary power. The electronics in your car can continue to draw power from the battery. It’s comparable to leaving your headlights on.

Check The Expiration Date

Modern car batteries are quite durable, but today are expected to power far more than they used to. Most cars now have a plethora of powered accessories, far more than the headlights, radio, and heater that were once standard equipment.

If your car is starting to need a jump start, check how long it’s been under the hood – if it’s less than three years old and you don’t usually run a lot of accessories off the battery, check with the manufacturer or contact us to see what’s causing it.

Here’s a checklist:

• Always keep the battery terminals clean and dry.
• Maintain fluid levels while never overcharging your battery.
• It is recommended that you top up your battery with distilled water.
• Never leave your battery uncharged for extended periods of time.
• Vibrations can damage the battery plates, so keep your battery secure.
• Leave lights or accessories on to avoid draining your battery.

Keep in mind, batteries usually last about 3 years or slightly more. So, keep an eye on it if yours is hitting this milestone.

Tags: Battery, Maintenance, Nissan
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