DIY Battery Maintenance to Avoid Winter Failures

You may see some white or green crusty buildup on and around the battery terminals. This blocks electrical flow and can mimic a dead battery. Your first step, therefore, is to clean the terminals before any testing.

(The only exception is when confirming that your battery won’t recharge at all, which we’ll discuss in Step 2.)

Collect these items and safety equipment before you start:

• safety glasses and gloves
• wrench (10mm is common)
• 1 tablespoon baking soda mixed in 1 cup of water
• old toothbrush or wire brush
• battery terminal brush
• dielectric grease or terminal protector

Then follow these steps every six months to properly clean your battery terminals:

1. Ensure your engine has been off for at least two hours. This allows heat to dissipate to safe levels.
2. Put on your safety glasses and gloves.
3. Disconnect the negative cable first, then the positive cable.
4. Clean the terminals using the baking soda solution and a wire brush.
5. Clean the clamps, being sure to scrub inside them, too.
6. Wipe down the top of the battery.
7. Reconnect the positive cable first and then the negative one.
8. Apply dielectric grease to the battery terminals to prevent corrosion.

Have these tools on hand:

• digital multimeter
• safety glasses
• safety gloves

Although battery testing is usually straightforward, protecting your eyes and hands is never a bad idea in case something goes wrong.

Follow this procedure to check your battery’s voltage:

1. Set the multimeter to DC voltage (20 V).
2. Connect the red cable to the positive terminal, and the black cable to the negative terminal.
3. Read the voltage:
   • Good: 12.6 V or higher
   • Acceptable, but should charge: 12.4 V
   • Needs attention: below 12.4 V
   • Probably needs replacing: under 12.0 V

With batteries, age does matter: lead-acid 12 V batteries last between three to five years. If your battery is in this age range, test it before you clean the posts and terminals: no point in cleaning a battery you’re about to replace.

If your digital multimeter says your battery is below 12.4 V and it’s at least four years old, replace it. The process takes very little time, and the low cost of a new battery far outweighs the cost of a tow.

A battery not only loses charge when the car is turned off, but it loses its charge faster in cold weather. Follow these tips to avoid starting a morning with an empty battery:

• Drive at least once every three or four days.
• Take 20-30-minute trips to recharge your battery.
• Combine errands in winter to reduce cold starts, which require more power from the battery.

You can also follow any of these steps to reduce how quickly the cold drains your car’s battery:

• A battery blanket keeps the battery warm overnight.
• A trickle charger tops up the battery’s charge when the car is turned off.
• Indoor parking, even in an unheated garage, slows down how fast your battery loses its charge in cold weather.

If you take only occasional short drives in winter, a trickle charger is highly recommended. Starting your vehicle requires lots of battery power. Add the cold temperatures, and you’re setting yourself up for a failed start.

Pay attention to these warning signs that suggest you need a new battery:

• slow cranking
• dim lights
• clicking sounds
• multiple jump starts

For more information about winter battery maintenance, visit your local NAPA Auto Parts store, where one of our friendly experts will be happy to assist you. Or visit our battery selection tool to find a battery guaranteed to fit your car.