How to maintain your Car Battery

One of the most important parts of your car is the battery. If it doesn't work, your car doesn't start. And, in the winter it is much more likely to let you down than in the summer months.

The electrical power produced by the battery is used by the cars ignition system for cranking the engine. The car's battery also powers the lights and other accessories.

Have the battery tested on a regular basis, including when the car is serviced and before any long journeys.

Here are some things you can do yourself to prevent being stranded on a cold winter day.

Know how old your battery is. To see how old your battery is look for a small decal on the battery. A letter with a number should be there. The letter indicates the month, starting with "A" for January, "B" for February, and so on. I is skipped so December is "M". The number represents the year with "9" standing for 1999, "0" for 2000, etc. so D2, would be April, 2002. F5 would be June, 2005. Experts usually advise getting a new battery when a battery is four years old.

Look out for corroded terminals or battery posts, loose clamps, loose cables, or a leaking or damaged battery case. Look for dirty, wet, corroded or swollen cables and battery top.

Look for a loose or broken alternator belt. If the alternator fails the battery will need to power the vehicle's entire electrical system and it won't last very long.

Keep Jump Leads in the boot of your car for emergency start up. Make sure the cables are free of rust and corrosion and that there are no exposed wires before using them.

Park your car in a garage whenever possible.