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Useful Tips to Improve Car Batteries

Vehicles rely heavily on electrical systems to keep them operational, so maintaining the battery is essential. There’s no reason to get stranded without power while maintaining car batteries in Winter Garden, FL, and it is simple when you follow a few helpful tips:

The Right Battery for Your Make and Model

Car batteries come with different power outputs. The battery must not only fit under the hood, but it must also be the correct voltage to meet the vehicle’s electrical requirements.

Clean the Battery Terminals

Time, dust, and corrosion are no friends to car batteries. Regularly clean the terminals with a dry cloth to ensure smooth power flow and longer battery life.

Watch for Self-Discharge

Car batteries lose power over time, and leaving your vehicle for an extended period could result in self-discharge. This drainage means the car might not start after prolonged storage.

Minimize Electronic Use When Idling

Idling with the music, lights, phone charger, and air conditioner isn’t ideal for your vehicle’s battery. Also, remember to turn off electrical systems like headlights and the radio when you leave the car.

By taking care of your car battery, you’ll avoid needing to call an auto repair shop to come to your rescue when nothing happens after you turn the ignition.

Car Sounds and What They Might Mean

Grinding. Squealing. Popping. Pinging. Clicking. Screeching. These are all scary noises when it comes to your car. But they are also helpful clues that can be useful. Paying careful attention to the sounds your car makes can help diagnose potential problems with it. Here are a few of the most common car sounds and what they might mean.

  • Squealing Engine: The next time the engine makes a loud squeal, it’s likely telling you it’s time to have the fan belt replaced. Fan belts tend to loosen over time, which can lead to that unmistakable squealing sound.
  • Knocking Under The Hood: There are a few possible explanations for engine knocking, among them, a problem with how fuel is being ignited within your engine, using incorrect spark plugs, using low-quality gasoline, or worn out or loose rod bearings.
  • Squeaky brakes: If your brakes consistently give you a high-pitched, single-note screech, this is caused by worn-out brake pads or, on older vehicles, brake shoes. Other possibilities include overheated brake pads or brake rotor rust.

When your car starts making weird sounds, don’t delay. Treat those noises like symptoms of a more significant problem, which requires a check-up and maintenance right away. For radiators, alternators, starters, or car batteries in Winter Garden, FL, call Millikan Battery and Electric, Inc., for prompt and professional service.

Dashboard Warning Lights You Need To Pay Attention To

Dashboard lights blink at you often, but do you really pay attention to them? A red warning light on the dashboard has an important purpose and usually indicates a serious car problem or a safety issue. A seat belt safety light is easy to understand and resolve quickly, but more serious warning lights need to be checked and corrected immediately.

Do you know what your dash lights mean? While no light should be ignored, some need more immediate attention than others. Here are five common warning lights and why they might be on.

Battery Light: The battery either needs to be replaced, or the wiring or alternator needs to be repaired. Head to a service or repair station that specializes in car batteries in Winter Garden, FL, as soon as possible while your car still has power.

Engine Temperature Light: Your engine could be overheating. Turn off your air conditioning and radio, turn on the heat, and pull over to a safe place to call for roadside assistance.

Check Engine Light: This dashboard sensor can mean a variety of things for your car, like the spark plugs need replacing or the gas cap isn’t screwed on tight, but there’s no need to panic. Visit a service station at your earliest convenience.

Oil Pressure Light: If this light turns on and stays on, it means your car might be low on oil. Top off your oil as soon as you can and then take it to a service repair shop to have it checked.

Tire Pressure Light: One or more of your tires need additional air. While you can safely drive on the tires for a short time, driving underinflated tires too far or too fast can cause irreparable damage to them, so fill them up at the next gas station.

: Everything You Need to Know About the Life of Your Car Battery

The life of your car battery is dependent on a number of factors, so while every battery has an estimated lifespan, how long it actually lasts for your vehicle will vary. Some of the varying factors that affect your vehicle’s battery include humidity, temperature, and other environmental factors.

Under ideal circumstances – that means you live in the perfect world with low humidity and moderate temperatures – you can likely expect your vehicle’s battery life to be about six years. However, on average, in the real world, a car battery lasts between two and five years. For drivers in warm climates of the south, temperatures tend to increase damage to the battery due to sulfation and water loss. For drivers in more northern climates, you may not be able to get the full five or more-year lifespan out of your battery because of the long, cold winter temperatures.

But, just like the overall health of your car, proper care can extend the life of your car battery. The best way to make sure that your car battery lasts a long time is always to keep it fully charged. That means always turning off the lights and never leaving accessories plugged in. Also, always make sure your battery is checked during routine vehicle maintenance. When it is time for new car batteries in Winter Garden, FL, call Millikan Battery and Electric, Inc., for high-quality service at competitive prices.

Common Car Battery Troubles

A car battery is an integral part of the mechanics of what makes your car run. The battery is used to power up the starter, which, in turn, is responsible for starting the engine. After starting the engine, the rest of the electric system is powered through the alternator. While the car battery is known to be efficient, it can be problematic at times.

We’ve compiled a list of the most common car battery problems that you might encounter. In some cases, you can make temporary changes or repairs that will prolong the life of the battery. But, when all else fails, it might be time to replace it with new car batteries in Winter Garden, FL. Typically, a vehicle’s battery could need replacing every four to five years.

  • Headlights: One of the common causes of car battery failure is leaving the headlights on. The headlights or any other kind of dim light can drain the battery overnight.
  • Corroded or Loose Terminals: The charging system cannot top off your battery while driving if the battery connections have corroded. Loose battery cables make it difficult to start the engine too, as they cannot transfer the electrical current efficiently.
  • Severe Weather: The car battery is greatly affected by harsh weather conditions, both in summer and winter.
  • Old Battery: If your battery is old or weak, it will not hold a full charge well.

Having a car battery that won’t stay charged is frustrating. To resolve your vehicle troubles, you’ll need the assistance of a qualified mechanic who can diagnose your car’s electrical problems and determine if the problem is a dead battery or something else.