How to Check Your Car Battery A battery,like other parts of your vehicle mx-sensor,is
subject to wear and tear and should be checked regularly. In particular,pay
attention to the battery's trouble spots,shown here. A battery that's kept clean
lasts longer than a cruddy one. Before you work on your battery,be sure to read
all the safety measures involved. Here's a rundown: Never work on a battery with
a lit cigarette in your mouth. Batteries are filled with sulfuric acid that
generates hydrogen gas. If you get acid deposits on your skin or clothes,wash
them off with water immediately. Disconnect the battery whenever you work on
it,but be sure to shut the engine off first! On most modern vehicles,computers
control functions of the engine,fuel and ignition systems,automatic
transmissions,and other stuff. Be extremely careful not to inadvertently send a
shot of unwanted voltage into one of the computers and destroy it. Always remove
the negative cable from the battery if you plan to work on wiring under the
hood. This prevents you from possibly damaging electrical components or
receiving a shock. When removing and replacing both battery cables,always remove
the negative cable first and replace it last. If you attempt to remove the
positive clamp first and your wrench slips and touches something metal,your
wrench can fuse to the part like an arc welder. Tie the cables back while you
work on the battery. Don't allow anything made of metal to connect the terminal
posts; this can damage the battery. If the cables are connected to the posts
when something else interferes,you can destroy the onboard computers. Don't let
all the cautions listed here turn you off the idea of checking your vehicle's
battery. It's easy to check your battery. Just locate it and follow these steps:
1. Clean off powdery deposits on the positive and negative terminals. The
deposits that form in lovely colors on the top of your terminals are made by
battery acid. Before you clean it,remove the cables (negative first) from both
terminals by undoing the nut on each cable clamp and wiggling the cable until
the clamp comes off the terminal post. To brush the deposits off the terminal
posts and cable clamps,sprinkle some baking soda onto each terminal,dip an old
toothbrush or disposable brush in water,and scrub the deposits away. If your
cables and clamps won't clean up completely with baking soda and water,rotate an
inexpensive battery terminal brush on each terminal to shine it and ensure a
good,solid electrical connection. You can also shine the insides of the cable
clamps with the clamp cleaner that's usually sold as one unit with the brush. A
soapless steel wool pad may also do the job. 2. Dry everything with a
clean,disposable,lint-free rag. Try to avoid getting the powdery stuff on your
hands or clothes. If you do,wash it off with water right away launch
x431 pro plus. 3. Reconnect the terminals to the battery,replacing the
positive cable first and the negative cable last. After the battery terminals
are reconnected,coat the terminals with thick automotive grease or petroleum
jelly to prevent corrosive deposits from forming again. 4. Examine the battery
cables and clamps to see whether they're frayed or corroded. If the damage looks
extensive,the cables and clamps may need to be replaced; otherwise,the battery
may short-circuit,which could damage onboard computers. Have a professional
check it out. If you've been having trouble starting your engine,if your
headlights seem dim,or if the battery is old,check to see whether the
electrolyte in the battery is strong enough. If it's weak,the battery may need
to be recharged or replaced before it dies and leaves you stranded. 5. Check the
battery case and the terminals. If you see major cracks in the battery case or
obvious terminal damage,replace the battery regardless of its electrical
performance.
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