Many times people find themselves stranded on the side of the road or at home in the garage due to some sort of problem with their car. The need for automotive knowledge only goes up and cars become more and more advanced, however there are still some simple things that most anyone can do. Preventative maintenance, such as maintaining proper tire pressure or even washing your car regularly can greatly extend the life of the vehicle and even help to improve its resale value when you get ready to trade it in. Beyond the really simple tasks, there are some things that can be done under the hood by most anyone that can save both time and money, and one such thing is changing the battery.

Many take their cars for granted. In general this is likely due to the fact that when they get in their car and turn the ignition key, the engine almost always starts. When something goes wrong and this fails to happen, it is safe to say that a large number of car owners have no idea where to begin searching for the problem. Still, if you pay attention to what you hear, or do not here in many cases, you might be clued in to the issue.

If silence is what you hear when you turn the key, you can bet the farm you have a battery problem. Now, a failing or failed battery might me an indication of a much bigger problem. Still, you may have simply left on one of the many electrical items that drain the battery, or you may have a problem with the parts that help to maintain the battery’s charge. Regardless, the you are stuck wherever you are at that moment until you recharge or replace the battery, assuming your problem is not simply a disconnected cable.

If, rather than silence, you hear a clicking sound from under the hood, you can still look at the battery as too drained to operate properly. In this case there is no reason to keep trying. The car will not start. As with silence you may still have a bigger problem, but once again you will need to deal with the battery first.

If you replace a battery and find that it discharges again quickly, you may have purchased a bad unit. On the other hand, you may have issues with your alternator. This can be determined by placed a volt meter across the battery terminals. The meter will show you the charge. If low, your alternator could be the real part that requires repair.

If it comes down to getting a new battery, whether it is the real problem or a victim, you can find the correct replacement by asking the attendant at your garage, auto supply store or other location. Many places that sell batteries have kiosks available that will prompt you for a bit of information about your car and point you to the exact replacement type.

Once you have the correct battery, you can usually remove the old one and put the new one in place with just a wrench and maybe a screwdriver. Remember to remove and replace the cables to the terminals in the proper order. Failure to do so can result in serious injury. Also, do the right thing and don’t forget to properly dispose of the old battery.

Having a good idea about recognizing problems and even a minimal skill set that allows you to deal with the smaller ones is a good idea for anyone who drives. Even being just a little bit handy under the hood can take you a long way. Recognizing problems and fixing them yourself can be a great time and money saver.

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