Battery Tips

Car batteries are unsung transportation heroes. These heavy, black boxes rest quietly under the hood, ready to provide the essential electrical charge needed to fire up an engine and begin driving. Without a healthy battery, your car is just a large, metal sculpture parked in the driveway.


Throughout the life of your vehicle, you will probably have to replace your car's battery a number of times. Either it gets old and has to be replaced, or it is drained unintentionally when lights or another electrical accessory are left on. A dead battery can be a hassle, especially if you cannot find jumper cables or have to wait for roadside assistance. Being proactive in replacing your battery can ensure that your car is ready to go when you are.

Battery Maintenance

With a maintenance-free or sealed battery, you don't have to check or refill the electrolyte levels. Most of the batteries sold at Interstate Batteries are maintenance free. What this means is you can open the caps and check on them but it is not required. The benifit of having a battery you can check on is that you can extend the life of the battery but it is not required to have it last the typical life span.

What is recommended is to have your battery tested every year as part of your maintenance schedule. This test is almost always free and can alert you of a poor performing battery before it leaves you stranded.