How to Fix a Car Battery

We’ve all made that mistake; we’ve gotten out of our car to run into the grocery store and left the lights on while we did. So, if you’re wondering how to fix your car battery, then let the team at Ira Honda Saco help you with our quick guide on battery maintenance.

If you’re having battery issues in the Saco, Portland, and Scarbrough, ME, areas, our service center is here to help you get back on the road. We’ve put together this quick guide so you can do what you can between regular service appointments and how we can help you when you’re ready to get a new battery.

Avoiding Issues with Your Car Battery

There are things you can do to keep your battery healthy so you don’t need to fix it. When your car is off, turn off all the lights and the radio, and unplug anything you have charging while you’re stopped. This will keep your battery from draining while it’s not being recharged by the alternator.

Other things you can do include consolidating smaller trips. Quick trips may not get your battery recharged effectively, while consolidating them into longer trips gives the alternator more of an opportunity to keep your battery charged.

If you’re brave enough to open the hood and touch the battery itself, then the best thing you can do is keep your battery clean. Have you noticed a whiteish, blueish, or greenish substance on your battery? That’s corrosion, and if there’s only a bit of it, you can carefully clean it off with baking soda.

Be Prepared when Car Battery Dies

So, you’ve left your lights on at the store and now your battery is dead, no problem! This is a common problem, and it’s often an easy fix. You should keep a jump kit in your car just in case. This will include the cables you need to jump your car. Then, you’ll need a car with a functioning battery to jump from.

Be careful when attaching the cables at the terminals on both batteries, then start the car with the functioning battery. This will help charge your battery until you can start your own car and your alternator can go to work.

Replacing Your Car Battery at Ira Honda Saco

Your battery doesn’t last forever, no matter how well you take care of it, so visit us when you’re ready to replace your battery. There are some signs to take note of that you need a battery replacement rather than a quick jump. Remember that corrosion? If there’s more than just a bit around the terminal, you may need a replacement.

Or your battery can swell when exposed to high temperatures or being overcharged, and if that’s the case, do not touch it. Please, come to our service center so we can handle it as carefully as we can, as battery acid can be incredibly dangerous, even in small amounts.

We’ll take care of disposing of your battery as well as installing your new one, so come to us when you need battery service.

Let Our Service Center Help Fix Your Car Battery

Your battery is the brain of your car and needs special attention, so when you’re wondering how to fix your car battery, visit the service center at Ira Honda Saco for the answer. We’re here to help out all our friends in the Saco, Portland, and Scarbrough, Maine, communities, stay safe on the road.

Contact us to schedule your service appointment today!