If your alternator is in good working order but you've noticed your lights are dimming, it's challenging to start your car up, or you've noticed a foul smell, it might be time for a battery replacement. Read below to find out how to preserve your battery power and how to self-inspect the health of your vehicle's battery.

PRESERVE YOUR BATTERY LIFE

• Tip 1: Allow your car to run in idle for up to 30 minutes a week.
• Tip 2: Start your vehicle often. The longer the duration of the drive, the better. This allows the alternator to have time to charge the battery.
• Tip 3: Remember to keep the lights and radio turned off when exiting the car.
• Tip 4: Avoid short trips that require you to turn the ignition on and off multiple times a day.

SELF-INSPECT THE HEALTH OF YOUR BATTERY

• Sign 1: Corrosion on the battery.
• Sign 2: Cracking or discoloration of the battery.
• Sign 3: A foul or even burning smell coming from the battery.

Don’t get stuck with a dead battery. Learn how to jump-start a car so you can be on your way to work or even the grocery store in no time at all. Often, all a vehicle needs is a jump-start, so knowing how to do this can give your car what it needs to get you safely to your destination.

• Step 1: The vehicle with the functioning battery should be parked facing the vehicle with the dead battery. Make sure that the vehicle is turned off. Engage the parking brake on both vehicles.
• Step 2: Open both hoods to find the batteries. In some cases, there may be a plastic hood covering the battery terminals.
• Step 3: Identify the positive and negative terminals. Ensure the terminals are clean and that there is no corrosion.
• Step 4: Connect the red clamp to the positive post on the dead battery.
• Step 5: Uncoil the battery cable and hook the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the battery with the charge.
• Step 6: On the working battery, connect the black clamp to the negative post.
• Step 7: The last clamp should be attached to an unpainted metal surface on the car’s frame.
• Step 8: Check that the cables are secure before starting the engine of the vehicle with the good battery. You can then start the car with the dead battery.
• Step 9: Once the process of jump-starting the vehicle with the dead battery is complete, you can remove the jumper cables carefully but be sure to do so in the reverse order that they were placed on. Shut off the car that assisted in the jump-start.
• Step 10: Keep the engine running on the restarted vehicle for at least 10 minutes. This helps to prevent the battery from dying again. It is a good idea to take a look at the owner’s manual for your vehicle. The manufacturer may have other recommendations to follow.