Equipment Tests > Batteries

MAINTENANCE
Many batteries these days are 'maintenance free' but like many other parts of your truck or car, a bit of love goes a long way. Terminals should be inspected for secure fitting and corrosion as loose or high-resistance terminals can lead to a wide variety of vehicle problems - from hard starting to inadequate charging to high-rev misfires. Make sure you know your 4WD's radio security code, the vehicle is unlocked and the ignition is OFF - plus any other requirements mentioned in the owners manual - before removing battery terminals. If there are inspection ports (battery caps) present, electrolyte levels should be checked and maintained to the correct height - learn what it is for your brand of battery. What's wrong with checking your battery every time you check your oil?

WHY DID MY BATTERY DIE?
Most batteries don't die - they are killed. Under-sizing for the vehicle, inadequate charging capacity (caused by undersized alternator for the expected load, or a slipping fan belt) or faulty voltage regulation conspire to keep the battery permanently discharged and lead to internal destruction from sulfation. Over-charging (due to faulty voltage regulation) will boil a battery dry in use as quickly as a $20 charger will. A loose retaining mount can quickly allow a battery to vibrate or smash itself to death, too. Many batteries die due to improper charging procedures, especially when conventional starting and deep cycle batteries exist in the one vehicle. But that's a story for another day...

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CHARGING
Good rule of thumb - if it's been discharged slowly, charge it slowly and if it's been discharged quickly then pump charge into it fast. Once a battery is fully charged - typically overnight for a 'flat' starting battery - take it off the charger straight away. Most general-purpose chargers (i.e. cheap ones) will keep pumping power into a full-charged battery, causing it to 'boil' and abbreviating its life. 'Float' chargers - there are many brands available - can remain connected to keep an occasional-use battery fully charged and ready for work without doing damage.

COLD CASE
Cold weather affects a battery's performance because a battery is a big box of chemicals and chemical reactions don't happen as quickly when it's cold and that makes power delivery sluggish. Cold engines with thick oils require more grunt to start, too. Although a warm battery might be happier to start your truck than a cold one, too much heat has a detrimental effect. The reason is simple - the liquid electrolyte evaporates quicker when things are warm.

FAIL-SAFE
Many boats have a permanently wired link switch that allows the house battery to be used for emergency starting in case of failure. This switch will isolate the starting battery - to prevent the dud starter battery from pulling power from the house battery - and allow emergency starting. It's worth considering for inclusion in a second battery system in a 4WD. Heavy-duty batteries designed for marine environments have their cells anchored properly to the case to prevent damage. It's a tough ride in a tinny...
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