How to extend the life of your car battery
There are simple steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of your car’s battery.
RACQ Manager Automotive Operations Mark Wessling said the quality and efficiency of batteries had improved with advances in technology, but they were being placed under increasing demands by modern vehicles.
“People say that years ago batteries used to last seven, eight, nine years but vehicles never used them for anything apart from starting and powering a couple of lights,” Mr Wessling said.
“Now, everything in the vehicle is electric which is putting more demand on the battery. Batteries are being used for a lot more so they're not lasting as long.”
Mr Wessling said the average battery was likely to last between 38 and 48 months but that was dependant on how long it had been sitting on a store shelf before installation, how often it was used and whether it was being maintained at full charge.
He recommended using the battery regularly.
“Batteries benefit from being used,” Mr Wessling said.
“If you're using it or putting it on a charger, then you're going to get longer life out of it.”
Mr Wessling said vehicles were being used less because more owners were working from home and the high price of fuel was discouraging people from driving.
“You’ve got to make sure that they are being used,” he said.
“If you're driving a car once or twice a day, that's what I see as good usage. If you’re driving it once or twice a week, the battery is just not getting used.”
“The other day we had one of our RACQ batteries come out of a car that had been in there for eight years.
“The owner drove the car regularly and if he went on holidays, he made sure he put the battery on a charger when he got home. He really looked after it.”
Learn about RACQ's battery recycling program
Batteries are notorious for dying at the most inconvenient times but by paying attention to your vehicle it is possible to be alerted to its impending demise.
“You can usually tell because the sound the car makes on starting will be a bit different,” Mr Wessling said.
“It’s normally on the first start of the day because when you go for a drive, your alternator will charge your battery but it gives it a surface charge so that it's ready to start again next time.
“But for the first charge of the day, when the car’s cold and it is at its hardest to start, you will notice that there's a change in the sound.
“If it sounds like it's labouring, it's probably time to get it checked.”
If you have RACQ Roadside Assistance you can request to have your battery checked.
“A member of our Roadside Assistance team will come out and check the car and battery and tell you how well the battery is performing,” Mr Wessling said.
“If it needs replacing, they can install a new battery and take away the old one for recycling.
“Some modern vehicles even need to be ‘told’ a battery has been replaced and this can be completed at the roadside in most cases.”
Get going with an RACQ car battery
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