| Checking The Battery |
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This is another job that takes longer to read about than to do. Once familiar with it, checking battery connections will take just a few seconds. All you’re doing is carefully wiggling the battery cables at the two terminals. Because the battery is full of acid and electricity, treat it with the proper respect and don’t try touching the terminals without gloves—or at least a clean rag—between you and the battery. If the terminals are loose, carefully tighten them with the proper size wrench. If the terminals have a white or light-colored power on them, carefully clean the terminals with a brush or rag, being very cautious as the dust is corrosive. If you’re not comfortable doing this, take your car to a battery shop or a trusted mechanic. If you want to do it yourself, unloosen the terminals and use a battery brush to clean the terminals and posts. Then apply a battery gel or washers that minimize corrosion. Note: Disconnecting your car’s battery may require that you reset a security code. Read the owner’s manual for specifics before disconnecting the battery. Car Alarm Many jobs around your car require that you disconnect the negative terminal on your car’s battery for safety. On many cars, doing so may require that you reset a security code. Read the owner’s manual for specifics before disconnecting the battery. Also, be aware that some car computers will automatically clear diagnostics codes from memory if the battery is disconnected.
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Once a month, check the connections at your car’s battery to make sure they are clean and well-connected. If the battery isn’t maintenance-free (most are today), you may need to check the level of distilled water in the battery cells.
