Fall River Auto Supplies: Battery Maintenance and Cleaning

A premium battery will last three to six years, depending on where you live and your level of driving activity. We provide free battery testing in Fall River at LaCava Brothers Auto Parts and Services – even if you bought your battery somewhere else. If you need to replace it, all you need to get going is a basic wrench set and some understanding of battery operation. Between routine automobile battery maintenance and cleaning, extra items can be utilized to increase battery life and thereby enhance vehicle performance.

The Right Type of Battery

The type of battery needed as well as the make and model of your car will determine the range of new batteries between $80-200. Usually, more sophisticated and costly batteries are needed for the more modern high-tech automobiles with plenty of electronics and technology running within of them. Should you visit a dealership, you may be charged 20 to 25 percent extra for the battery and spend $100 or more for labor. Changing a battery, however of different kind, is really easy. Paying $300 to 400 or more only to have your battery changed at the dealer is not justified.

See our Fall River auto supplies shop first. Based on the make and model of your car, our pleasant and informed staff members can assist you to choose the correct battery. You should also evaluate the kind of driving you do—long drives into Boston everyday vs around-town errands. You should also consider this while deciding the age and rate of replacement for your present battery, even in a brand-new car; New England’s vehicle owners typically find they need to change their batteries more often than those in a more moderate environment.

Battery Maintenance and Cleaning

You probably should replace your truck or automobile battery if it is more than three years old. Either you could choose to be proactive and replace it before it runs out on you in the most inconvenient location or you could bring it in for a free battery testing in Fall River to ascertain how much life is left. Verify that the engine is off and that your car is in a secure spot on a level ground. Try not to change your battery on the side of the road whenever at all feasible. During this kind of maintenance, you want traffic, open fires, water, or sparks free from causing problems. You should be ready ahead of time as disconnecting the battery will reset your clock, radio, navigation, alarm settings.

SAFETY TIP: To protect yourself during this replacement, it is advised that you carry mechanics gloves, safety goggles, and a basic set of wrenches. Pop the hood to have a look at the battery. Should battery fluid exist or leak, the gloves and goggles will shield your eyes and skin. The battery has two cords hooked to it: one will be red and the other black. Should you not notice it immediately, see your owner’s handbook for guidance.

First detach the black or negative cable. Prevention of electrical shorts depends on this. After removing the plastic cover, slide the negative cable clamp off the termination with your wrench. You can now cut the positive cable, usually red and indicated with a plus sign. Once more, remove the plastic cover, loosen the positive cable clamp with a wrench, then pull the cable from the terminal. Make sure the negative and positive cables do not come into touch with anything else made of metal or else they might create an electrical short. Eliminating any connectors or bolts securing the battery in place can let you remove it from the car.

Free Battery Testing and Quality Parts

This is the ideal moment to establish a healthy habit of auto battery maintenance and cleaning when you install the new one. After the old battery was replaced, you might have observed some corrosion or build-up on the terminals. The fluid that has spilled over time will determine the color of this build-up—white, gray, blue, or green. To totally remove the rust, it is advised you use a cloth or 100-grit sandpaper. Ignoring any of it might cause a speedier return of corrosion, which can affect the lifetime of your new battery.

Get your new battery, cleaning supplies, and lithium grease products—which will help to avoid corrosion going forward—by visiting LaCava Auto Parts and Services. Arrange the fresh battery in the battery tray then fasten it to the bracket. This will essentially be the reverse of what you did to eliminate the battery. Check the fasteners to be secure; do not spray grease on any other engine block component. First connect the positive red wire then the negative black cable next so that you never finish the electrical circuit before everything else is correctly linked. Replace all plastic covers, close the hood, then run your car.

Get Fall River Auto Supplies

Our Fall River auto supply store has all the tools, parts, and goods you would possibly need. Call us at 508-676-1951 or stop by our Bedford Street Fall River store. We can check to make sure you are obtaining the correct battery for the make and model of your vehicle, respond to any concerns you might have regarding car battery maintenance and cleaning, and provide free battery testing in Fall River. LaCava Auto Parts and Services here is ready to assist!