Take Care of Your Batteries and They'll Take Care of You!

Nothing is more frustrating than heading out for a great round of golf with friends and be stranded at the 4th hole because of dead batteries!  The same goes for a fun-filled afternoon on the boat, there's nothing quite like the embarrassment and hassle of finding out your boat batteries are dead when you arrive at the water!  The number one reason we see for premature battery failure here at Treasure Coast Battery & Alternator is LACK OF MAINTENANCE.  Maintaining batteries is definitely not on the top of the list of fun things to do, but if you follow these few simple steps your batteries will perform reliably for many years!

1. Clean the corrosion from the terminals using a SMALL amount of baking soda.  Sprinkle the baking soda on the terminal connections and add a small amount of water to it, the baking soda will foam up and then you can rinse away the corrosion.  If the build up is heavy, a small brass brush can help.  *NOTE* Take care to NOT get any baking soda INSIDE the battery, it will neutralize the acid and damage the battery.
2. Check the water level in the battery.  Remove the battery cell caps if your battery has them.  The water level should be 3/4 to one inch below the lip of the battery for marine and automotive batteries and up to the bottom of the lip that extends down in to the golf cart batteries.  *NOTE* DO NOT overfill your batteries as the acid that spills out could damage battery trays or anything else it comes in contact with.
3. Make sure battery connections are tight.  Over time, vibration can loosen the battery connection causing intermittent electrical problems and possibly damage the battery terminals.  *NOTE* DO NOT over tighten the connection as this could cause damage to the battery post or terminal.

Should you have any questions regarding proper battery maintenance, feel free to contact our staff at Treasure Coast Battery & Alternator at 772-287-0301; however following these 3 simple steps will definitely prolong the life of your batteries and eliminate costly premature battery failure.  Remember, take care of your batteries and they'll take care of you!