Battery safety is a huge concern for car owners, but a surprising number of drivers aren’t well-versed in how to stay safe with their car battery. Viking Automotive has some information that can help you.
Don’t Jump Start a Cold or Frozen Battery
If your car’s battery is cold or even frozen, never try to jump start it. That’s a really bad idea and it can be incredibly dangerous. When it’s cold and you can’t start the car, do what you can to warm up the battery first. Even a blanket around the battery for a little while can help. when in doubt, have a professional handle the problem for you.
Battery Testing Answers a Lot of Questions
Any time you’re not sure what’s going on with your car’s battery or it’s acting odd, get the battery tested. It’s also a good idea to get the alternator and the rest of the electrical system tested. That can help you to figure out exactly what’s going on so that you’re not accidentally making the situation worse instead of better.
Ensure New Batteries Are Completely Charged
You’d think that a brand new car battery would be completely charged, but it’s always best not to assume. If you’re installing the battery yourself, it needs to be tested to ensure that it’s fully charged. If the new battery isn’t fully charged, that’s going to place a strain on the entire electrical system of the car that will in turn drain the battery even further. The better idea is to have an experienced auto technician install a fully charged new battery for you.
Don’t Reverse the Polarity of Batteries, Ever
Car batteries, actually all batteries, have a specific polarity. There is a positive side and a negative side. If you connect the battery the wrong way so that the positive pole of the battery is connected to the negative spot in the car, that can cause damage to the battery and to your car’s electrical system. Avoid making that mistake.
Want some help with your car’s battery, alternator, or electrical system? Call Viking Automotive in Houston, TX today. We can help you to understand what’s going on with your car’s battery and if you need a new one, we can make sure that you get one properly installed. It’s so important to have exactly the help you need when you’re dealing with electrical issues in your car.
