importance of car battery service

1
Importance of car battery maintenance
2
Electric-vehicle battery

• Electric-vehicle batteries differ from starting,
  lighting, and ignition (SLI) batteries because
  they are designed to give power over sustained
  periods of time. Deep-cycle batteries are used
  instead of SLI batteries for these applications.
  Traction batteries must be designed with a
  high ampere-hour capacity. Batteries for electric
  vehicles are characterized by their relatively
  high power-to-weight ratio, energy-to-weight
  ratio and energy density smaller, lighter
  batteries reduce the weight of the vehicle and
  improve its performance.

3
Battery types

• Lead-acid
• Nickel metal hydride
• Zebra
• Lithium-ion
• Solid state (experimental)

4
Battery capacity

• Battery capacity are divided in to three major
  different categories according to there uses and
  they are
• Full-electric
• Plugin hybrids
• Nonplug-in hybrids

5
Steps in car battery maintenance

1. Locate the battery in your car.
2. Check the battery's water level every 2 to 3
   months, only if it's a non-maintenance-free
   wet-cell battery
3. Clean the battery terminals with a wire brush
   every 6 to 8 months.
4. Coat the battery with grease made for high
   temperatures
5. Inspect cell voltage every time you get an oil
   change or have your car in for maintenance.
6. Check the battery insulator, if your car has one
7. Take your car in to your mechanic or shop for
   regular servicing and tune-ups

6
Locate the battery in your car.

• Most car batteries have a heavy-duty plastic case
  with two terminals to connect the positive and
  negative (ground) wires to the car. The terminals
  are usually made of lead or brass and can look
  like two thimbles. The terminals can also be two
  threaded screws or two threaded holes on the
  front of the battery. Take a picture before
  removing the cables to make sure the positive and
  negative cables do not get reversed

7
Check the battery's water level every 2 to 3
months, only if it's a non-maintenance-free
wet-cell battery

• Absorbed Glass Matt (AGM) battery. With an AGM
  battery, never attempt to open the battery. It is
  a good idea to only have a battery expert check
  the water levels in a maintenance-free
  battery-they rarely ever need water. For
  non-maintenance-free wet-cell batteries you can
  check the battery's water level every 2 or 3
  months. The water should just touch the bottom of
  the battery's refill hole.
• Pull up the fill caps on the battery to inspect
  the fluid level. Some batteries do not have fill
  caps because they are made so they do not need
  any water.
• Refill the battery only with distilled water, if
  the level is low. Pour the water into the cell
  using a funnel. Do not overfill. Wait for the
  water to reach the bottom of the refill hole.
  Never overfill into the fill holes.

8
Clean the battery terminals with a wire brush
every 6 to 8 months.

• Remove the connectors from the battery terminal
  by moving them from side to side and gently
  pulling them up.
• Rub the wire brush into a paste of baking soda
  mixed with distilled water. Gently scrub the
  terminal to achieve a shine and remove dried acid
  build-up.
• Never use a rubber mallet to put terminals on a
  battery. Always use terminal spreaders to widen
  the terminal connectors opening to fit over the
  battery terminals.

9
Coat the battery with grease made for high
temperatures

• Applying the grease will protect the battery from
  rust and corrosion. Acceleration makes the
  battery to corrode.

10
Inspect cell voltage every time you get an oil
change or have your car in for maintenance.

• Your mechanic will have a reliable method for
  testing your voltage. A fully charged battery
  will have a charge of 12.5 to 12.6 volts. Take
  your car to an auto parts store for battery
  testing between visits to your regular mechanic.
  They can check the voltage and the charge for
  you, and offer you products that may help with
  your battery maintenance plan. Remember that a
  battery under 12.5 volts should never be tested
  until it reaches a fully charged level. A battery
  tester will often show "Bad Battery" if the
  battery is not fully charged even though the
  battery is perfectly good!

11
Check the battery insulator, if your car has one

• Some cars include an insulator to protect the
  battery against very high temperatures, which can
  dry out its fluid quickly. The insulator should
  be in place and undamaged.

12
Take your car in to your mechanic or shop for
regular servicing and tune-ups

• The best way to maintain your battery and your
  entire car is to have it inspected and tested
  every 3,000 miles (4,800 km) or 3 months,
  whichever comes sooner.