What is the first thing you pay attention to, when you are looking for a car? Probably, the engine capacity, fuel efficiency or car’s battery. The battery is one of the most important parts of any modern vehicle. It performs a variety of tasks right from starting the engine to powering in-car computers. Most of the car owner’s pay no attention towards the health of their cars until there come a time when they refuse to get started. Damaged or flat batteries are the common reason for roadside assistance calls and a huge amount of breakdowns.
When Seek Car Battery Replacement Services?
If your car is taking too long to get started or has old car batteries, chances are there you may need to replace your car batteries. The average life of a car’s battery is 5 to 7 years. However, with proper care and maintenance, you can make your car’s battery last longer. Some of the common conditions that depict something is wrong with your car are- engine of your car making cranking noises or taking longer than normal to start, swelling battery case, or low battery fluid level. All these are several signs that suggest something is wrong with your car’s battery that needs to be fixed immediately.
Many car owners make a mistake of trying to fix the problem on their own and end up making the problem even more worse. One should always trust the job with the reliable and reputed professionals who have got rich knowledge and experience in the field. The right professionals will offer the most professional and cost-effective car battery replacement services in Singapore without burning a hole in your pocket.
It does not matter if your car battery has been showing warning signs or you are stuck on the roadside, you can have peace of mind that professionals can help you out with your needs.
Get Help Today!
Get in touch with the experts at Battery Express if you are looking for professional battery replacement services in Singapore. They service a wide variety of Japanese/Korean/Continental vehicles. Visit the website today for more details.
What is the worst thing that can happen to you when you are coming home after a party, stepped into your car to drive back. But what is this, your car refuses to start. Well, in that case, there comes the need of professional jump start services to start your car so that you are not left in the middle of the road. Even if you have jumper cables, it would not be the right thing to ask anyone around to help you get your car started. The professionals would not only help you tow your car, but also help you get it started.
Why Prefer Professionals Over DIY?
The dead car’s battery is the worst thing that can happen to you, especially. when you have nobody to help you with your jumper cables. Many individuals make a mistake of trying to start their cars on their own with the help of jumper cables and end up doing more harm than good. We strongly recommend you not to mess up with the things that you are not knowledgeable about and call in the professionals who have the right knowledge, guidance and skills to perform the job.
The professionals use high-quality jump start cables and multiple starting batteries of varying amp-hours to start the batteries of different vehicles. They would take the time to examine the current state of your battery and alternator using a professional battery analyzer to determine if it is in the good working conditions.
Not just this, the professionals are always available to help you anywhere anytime.They would visit you for help when you are stranded on a road. You just need to tell them where you are and the experts would reach the location with all the tools needed to jump-start your car. Once they have fixed the problem, they would double ensure that your battery terminals are tight and clean.
Get the Help Today!
If you want your car to work in the best-possible condition, we recommend you to get in touch with the experts at Battery Express.They provide the most professional and car battery replacement services in Singapore.Visit the website today for more details.
A properly maintained car battery is crucial to ensure optimum performance. Inspections on a regular basis (e.g. once a month) is highly recommended, as doing so will help to maximize and prolong your car battery life.
To prevent the inconvenience of a roadside breakdown, it is advisable to have a car battery replacement at periodic intervals instead of waiting till it is completely dead.
• Regular Inspection of your Car Battery
Consider these points when examining your car battery:
i. Ensure that the top of the battery case is clean and dry, and free of dirt and dust. A dirty battery can discharge unintentionally across the dirt and dust on the top of the battery case.
ii. Examine the battery terminals, screws, clamps and cables for damage or loose connections. At all times, these should be clean, tight and free of corrosion or sulfation build-up.
iii. Check the battery case for obvious signs of physical damage or swelling. This usually indicates the battery has overheated or has been overcharged.
• Battery Terminal Corrosion and Sulfation
i. Corrosion
Formaintenance-free batteries, corrosion happens when electrolyte (diluted sulphuric acid) makes its way out to battery terminals through any leaks or joints over time.
Overcharging can also result in excess heat which increases the volume of electrolyte filled inside the car battery. The electrolyte will then overflow through leaks and loose joints. If the electrolyte comes into contact with the the copper battery clamps or ringed copper terminals with electricity flow, they react and form hydrated copper sulphate, a blue-ish powder.
To eliminate the corrosive materials, you can use a DIY baking soda mix (3tbs baking soda & 1 tabs warm water), and scrub the terminals clean using an old toothbrush. Wipe them dry and apply a bit of petroleum jelly around each terminal to deter future corrosive build-up.
ii. Sulfation
Sulfation occurs when the sulphur molecules in the electrolyte becomes so deeply discharged that they begin tocrystalise and coat over the battery’s lead plated terminals. Over time, the terminals become so thickly-coated with lead sulphate crystals that the battery loses efficiency and dies.
Most car battery failures are related to sulfation build-up. The causes of sulfation are numerous, and include not using the car/battery on a regular basis and excessive battery drain from in-car computer systems and gadgets.
Initial signs are slower cranking, reduced battery storage capacity and inability to reach full charge voltage (12v). Crystal formations are easy to break down and be absorbed back into the electrolyte. However, if left unchecked, they will begin to harden and stick to the terminals. Eventually, the battery will be rendered non-chargeable and dead.
To counter desulfation, the best solution is to drive your vehicle on a regular basis. Even if you don’t need to drive much, at least take the vehicle for a spin once or twice per week.
Alternatively, you can connect battery desulfators/restorers, such as the Lotus Life Pulsar Car Battery Desulfator to your car batteries. These devices generate an electrical pulse to shatter and remove the sulfate crystals, slowing down the rate of sulphate crystallization and preventing damage to the battery terminals. In this way, the service life and performance of the battery is extended and maximized.
• In-Car Electronic Gadgets and Accessories
With the popularity of in-car electronic gadgets and accessories such as GPS devices, digital video recorders and in-car phone chargers, this often puts unnecessary strain on the car battery.
If you have multiple gadgets or similar items installed in your vehicle, it is highly recommended to power them using a separate power source, use a constant power cable or turn them off before turning off the engine.
This avoids 24-hr continuous discharge of the car battery, of which most battery warranties do not cover.
When you attempt to start the vehicle, the engine is able to crank but in a very weak manner. If your battery is dying, you may also notice that the engine cranks more slowly than usual.
There is a minor chance that your starter is faulty, but almost all the time, the cause lies with your battery. It is important that you pick this up as a warning sign, as sometimes you may only get one shot at a slow start before the engine refuses to crank anymore.
ii. No Crank, No lights & Engine unable to start
This situation is rather straight-forward to diagnose, and an even stronger indication of a dead car battery. The car battery is like the heart of your vehicle, powering all the accessories and lights in your car, especially when your engine and alternator are turned off. Hence, if your car seems to be completely ‘dead’, you should definitely check your car battery.
If your car won’t start and you hear a ‘clicking’ sound from the engine, it is likely to be a dead battery.
If your car won’t start but the headlights work, it is possible that there may be some issues with the starter or engine itself.
iii. Intermittent Problems in Starting Engine
If you encounter problems in starting in car every other day or week, this is a sign that your battery terminals and cables may be loose, broken or corroded. It may also be caused by in-car electronic gadgets draining excessive power from your car battery, especially if you leave them turned on when the engine is off. You may also notice that your headlights are dimmer than usual.
Inspect your battery terminals and cables carefully for broken ends, loose connections and corrosion/sulfation. Make sure the battery clamps fit firmly and securely.
iv. Cold Cranking is Difficult.
Cold Cranking refers to starting your car engine for the first time of the day. If you find yourself having to regularly spend extra time and efforts starting your vehicle (e.g. stepping on gas pedal, turning the key a few times, and waiting for a while before it finally starts all of a sudden), chances are that your battery is running out of juice.
Another possibility is that your current battery was never sufficient or suitable for your specific car brand and model in the first place. More often than not, car owners end up using an ‘under-spec’ battery for their car, at the incorrect advice of mechanics or aquaintances etc., lured in by its relatively cheaper price.
Battery Express always informs and recommends the suitable battery size/spes to our customers, ensuring that customers know what they are paying for before they make their decisions. We believe in price transparency and creating the best value for our customers.
v. Frequent Jump-Starts
The simple rule is: If you have to jump-start your vehicle more than 2 to 3 times in a single week, it’s time to replace your car battery. Even a brand new battery can fail quickly, if you frequently jump-start it.
Using jumper cables is really hard on your battery, as they literally ‘shock’ your battery back to life. This is meant to be an emergency or last resort kind of measure and should not be done repeatedly over a short period of time.
You might even end up ‘killing’ your starter or alternator. So save yourself the headache and money, and replace the car battery as soon as possible.
vi. Old Battery Age
In Singapore, the average car battery lasts about 1.5-2.5 years. With proper maintenance or the use of battery desulfator/lifespan extender, you can prolong the service life of your battery.
That being said, it is a good idea to get your battery tested during your scheduled car maintenance or servicing, especially if the battery is already past the one-year mark, just to make sure it still has sufficient cranking power and voltage.
Battery Express also offers on-site battery testing service, using our battery analysers, which are able to accurately pin-point if your battery is dying/dead. The results will be shown to you, afterwhich you can then decide if you require a battery replacement or not.
vii. Swollen or Bloated Battery Case
Swollen or bloated battery case is an indication that your battery has been exposed to excess heat. This is often due to overcharging due to incorrect alternator settings, resulting in an ‘electrically-dead’ car battery. Such car batteries cannot be recovered and will require immediate replacement.
• Other Useful Tips
i. Drive your vehicle regularly. Even if you have no need to drive much, always try to take your vehicle for a spin for say, 20 minutes, at least 1-2times per week.
ii. Regularly inspect and your car battery, or send your car for scheduled maintenance and servicing, always making sure that the battery is being examined.
iii. Keep the top of the battery case and the battery compartment tray clean from dirt and grime.
iv. Take note of corrosion and sulphation on battery terminals and rectify them before it is too late.
v. Do not attempt to jump-start a flat battery if you do not have the know-how. You risk damaging the battery, starter, alternator and most importantly, yourself.
vi. Jump-starting will only work on a weak battery, but not if your battery is completely dead.
vii. Follow standard sequence in disconnecting and reconnecting your car battery, for safety purposes.
viii. Take note of system indicator lights such as check engine light, battery warning light or low coolant lights, if your vehicle is equipped with them. They may indicate potential issues with your battery.
ix. A stink or strong smell is an obvious sign of leakage in your battery case. Check thoroughly and replace your car battery if there is indeed a leakage.
x. Do not use your car lights or accessories/gadgets for extended period of time, with the engine turned off. This only discharges the battery at a higher rate and reduces its lifespan.
xi. Keep in mind the installation date of your car battery. On average, car batteries last about 1.5-2.5 years. As such, it is advisable to schedule a car battery replacement at your own convenience while it still works, rather than waiting till a roadside breakdown happens.
xii. Disconnect the car battery terminals and the cables if you plan not to use your car for an extended period of time (e.g. one or two weeks).
Knowledge is power when it comes to your car’s battery and electrical system. In fact, it’s your ride’s heart and soul. The last thing you want is to be left stranded on the road with a dead battery, and ruining a family outing or delaying important meetings. It is absolutely the worst experience ever!
Most car owners do not realize the importance of their car batteries until they fail or break down. If you can grasp the basics, you’ll have fewer battery problems and likely benefit from increased battery performance, reliability and life-span.
In this article, we will cover everything from general battery knowledge to maintenance guide and what you should do when you suspect a weak or dead car battery.
1. How does a Car Battery work?
A battery is a device for storing electrical energy in chemical form, which is then released as direct current in a controlled manner.
Most Zr-Zuric car batteries are lead-acid batteries, also known as SLI (staring-lighting-ignition) batteries, which means that they have positive and negative electodes made of lead compounds in a dilute sulphuric acid electrolyte.
When the starter-motor is connected across the battery, a current flows through and causes the battery to discharge, turning the chemical composition of both electrodes to lead sulphate. The resulting electrical energy and voltage is what put your car and its electrical components into action.
Car batteries can be charged by allowing a current through them from an external source of electricity, such as a car alternator or battery charger. These devices allow the conversion of the lead sulphate back to their original chemical materials of lead dioxide and porous lead.
2. Understanding Battery Specifications
• JIS /DIN
JIS stands for Japanese Industrial Standard. JIS batteries are commonly used for most Japanese & Korean vehicles.
DIN stands forDeutschesInstitutfürNormung (German Industrial Standard). DIN batteries are suitable for Continental vehicles and selected Korean makes (E.g. Kia/Hyundai).
• Maintenance-Free (MF)
A Maintenance-Free (MF) battery is also known as a VRLA (valve-regulated lead-acid battery) or sealed battery. These are a new generation of car batteries designed using the latest improvements in battery technology.
Unlike their predecessors, there is no need to top these up with distilled water. Hence, they do not require constant maintenance by the car owners.
p>Battery Express supplies and uses only Maintenance-Free Zr-Zuric car batteries.• AH / CCA
AH stands for Amp-Hour. It provides a measurement of battery capacity and is an indication of how much energy can be stored by the battery. For example, Zr-Zuric’s NS60L battery is of 45 AH. Typically, the higher the AH value, the more powerful and expensive the battery.
However, this does not mean that the highest AH battery is the ‘best’. This is because every car brand and make has its own battery requirements. Using a battery of lower-than-recommended AH values, will result in the battery being ‘under-spec’, and significantly shortening the life-span of the battery.
CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amps and is a measurement of the number of amps which the battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds and not drop below 7.2 volts (unusable). This is one of the more commonly known battery measurement. When you start your car, the battery needs to supply enough power to the starter-motor and ensure the engine start. If your battery has insufficient CCA, your car won’t start. Zr-Zuric batteries range from 335CCA on the smaller sizes to 820CCA on the larger and more expensive sizes.
3. Which battery size/spec should I use for my car?
Every car brand and model has its own specific battery requirements. These can range from the physical dimensions of the car battery compartment tray to the recommended AH/CCA values for the car brand and model. You can find out these information by inspecting your current car battery or your owner’s manual.
Battery Express will be able to promptly advise you on the recommended battery size/spec, if you let us know the brand/model/cc of your vehicle.
4. Battery Life and Performance
Over the years, the average battery life has become shorter as energy requirements have increased. Most vehicles now come equipped with clocks, computer systems, alarm systems and more. In Singapore, in part due to our hot climate, car batteries usually have an average lifespan of 1.5-2.5 years depending on the type and size of the battery.
Most battery brands, including Zr-Zuric, Amaron and Bosch, all give up to 1 year warranty, and this is considered to be the norm. However, proper maintenance and regular testing can help to increase your car battery service life.
