Most drivers have experienced the frustration of turning a vehicle's key to have nothing happen. While there could be several reasons for this problem, the most common is that you have a dead battery. Like any other car part, automotive batteries can fail if they are not correctly maintained. Thankfully, you can prevent such issues by avoiding these common mistakes.

Mistakes That Shorten Your Car Battery's Lifespan

1. Not Cleaning the Battery Terminals

The terminals on your battery—the two raised posts you attach jumper cables to—should be clean and free of corrosion. If they are dirty or caked with debris, it can result in power leakage, slowly discharging the accumulator. Keeping them clean ensures the battery operates efficiently without unwanted power loss.

2. Failing to Maintain Automotive Batteries on Idle Cars

If you do not drive your car often, you might be under the impression that this will help it have a longer lifespan. While it's true that this minimizes wear and tear, it also results in dead batteries. Under regular use, your alternator keeps the battery charged. However, when the car isn't in use, the accumulator will slowly lose charge, draining the battery. If your vehicle sits for long periods, use a trickle charger to ensure it retains power.

3. Only Making Short Trips

Though vehicles must be driven now and then for the battery to stay charged and functional, occasional short trips are not enough. Automotive batteries need about 30 minutes of highway driving to recharge fully. Quick dashes to the store can do more harm than good since any power you use will be drained from the battery without being replenished. To avoid this, take a longer drive every week or two.

4. Forgetting to Turn Off Devices

The old mistake of leaving the headlights on overnight is now rare since most modern vehicles will automatically turn them off after a time, but they are not the only way drivers can accidentally drain their batteries. Plug-in devices such as dashcams drain power even when the engine isn't running. This won't drain your battery overnight, but a few days of sitting idle with the devices still plugged in will. Remember to disconnect them when you park for the night.

If you're in the market for a new car battery, visit the specialists at Victory Battery in Covington, KY. Since 1957, they have provided customers throughout Kenton County with automotive batteries of all types and a vast selection of batteries for home and business use. Visit the website for details, or call (859) 581-0343 to speak to a team member.