If your car is going to sit for a few weeks, did you know that can impact your car’s battery? It might even kill off the battery. Here’s what MotivWerks wants you to be aware of regarding your car’s battery when the car isn’t going anywhere for a while.
The Answer Varies
It isn’t uncommon at all for someone to be on vacation or sick and suddenly not drive a car for a few days. Sometimes a car sits a lot longer than that, though, and the weird thing is, your car’s battery might be fine in both scenarios or it might have a dead battery. If your car’s battery is already weak or there are extenuating circumstances, like extreme weather, your battery might not fare well if you’re not running the car often.
Prevention Is Key
Preventing a dead battery is a lot easier than dealing with one in the first place. Checking your battery regularly for things like corrosion on the battery posts and changes to the outer casing is important. These actions help you to spot potential problems well before they start, and ideally well before you need to let the car sit.
Get Your Battery Tested
It also doesn’t hurt to get your car’s battery tested a few times a year. You can easily do this while you’re having other services, like an oil change, handled. Your car’s battery has a lifespan of around six years or so, and that’s if you’re taking the best possible care of it. The best charger for your car’s battery is the car’s alternator and engine, which is why sitting for long periods of time can be so awful for your car’s battery.
Plan Ahead if the Car Is Going to Sit
Ideally, you don’t want the car, and ultimately the battery, to have to sit for a long time. But if that’s unavoidable, the best option is to remove the battery and try to remember to charge it every three months or so to keep the cells from dying completely. When you drive the car regularly, the alternator sends a charge back into the battery, accomplishing the same thing. But if the car is going to sit, you need another option unless you just want to buy a new battery when you’re ready to start driving the car again.
MotivWerks in Chambersburg, PA can help you with all of your car’s battery needs, whether it’s been sitting for a while or it’s your daily driver. Just give us a call and we’ll be able to help you sort out whatever is going on.