by Joyce Good Henderson

Created on: July 24, 2009

What you don't know about your car's battery can hurt you. Autos don't last forever, and unfortunately we can't shoot them when they die. While you can't avoid every problem, many can be prevented with regular maintenance.

The battery should be easy to spot. It's square or rectangular and has a couple cables coming out of the top or back. Those cables should be clean and free of any corrosion which appears as a white powder or crystals. The battery stores power for starting the car, and for running things like the clock, radio and alarms when the engine is off.

A twelve-volt storage battery is made up of two six-volt cells with layers of positively and negatively charged lead plates and insulated separators. The cells are filled with a liquid electrolyte solution, usually two-thirds distilled water and one-third sulfuric acid. The interaction of the plates and the electrolyte produces chemical energy that becomes electricity.

You'll need to replace your battery every two to five years depending on your driving habits how often you stop and start the car every day and where you live.

If the battery is sluggish starting or doesn't turn over at all, it may need a jump. Think of this as shock therapy for batteries.

Be very careful when handling a battery; it can produce explosive gases. Always wear protective glasses and gloves when handling a battery. Never smoke cigarettes with the car hood open. Avoid creating a spark near a battery, and use a flashlight, not a match, to look under the hood at night.

How to Jump-Start a Battery

Always wear safety goggles or protective glasses while jump-starting a car. A spark caused by attaching the jumper cables can ignite battery fumes and cause the battery to explode.

Never lean over the battery during the jumping process.

Park the second car close but not touching your car. Don't allow the cable clamps to touch each other.

Attach the positive (+) cable (red) to the positive terminal of the dead battery first. Then attach the other end of the positive cable to the positive terminal of the good battery. Attach the negative (-) cable (black) to the negative terminal of the good battery. Then attach the other end of the negative cable to the engine block away from the negative terminal. Do not attach a cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery.

Start the engine in the vehicle with the good battery and let it idle for a few minutes.

Turn on the headlights before starting the car with the low or dead battery. This absorbs voltage spikes that can cause damage to a vehicle's computer.

Start the engine with the dead battery. Once the engine is started, carefully remove the cables in reverse order, again not allowing the clamps to touch.

Take care of your car's battery and it will serve you well.

Learn more about this author, Joyce Good Henderson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.