Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118161
toolkit Got Juice? How to get the most from your car battery by Sonu Purhar THE BATTERY is a vehicle's life source – powering not just the engine but also the door locks, lights and other accessories. Without it, cars are essentially hunks of scrap metal, which means knowing the basics of battery function and maintenance is critical. Here's a crash course. WHEN TO REPLACE? Variables such as extreme weather, lack of maintenance and less-than-ideal driving habits can curtail a battery's function. Watch for red flags such as headlights and dash lights that dim when the vehicle slows to an idle, a slow-starting engine or malfunctions in electrical accessories such as radios and power windows. CLEAN & MAINTAIN The best — and simplest — way to clean a battery is with warm, soapy water. Add baking soda to remove acid build-up on terminals. A wire brush keeps connectors sparkling, and a battery-post cleaner (sold at auto-parts stores) de-gunks posts and cables. Auto technicians can also do the job; ask them to tighten loose cables and brackets while they're at it. WEATHER THE WEATHER Keeping terminals clean and units fully charged is the best way to prevent battery failure, but extreme weather can still take a toll. When temperatures drop below zero, engine oil thickens, which is why vehicles seem more reluctant to start in December than July; in fact, a battery may lose as much as a third of its power in cold weather. Offset by installing a battery with a high cold-cranking amps (CCA) rating. • Warmer temperatures can be just as harmful, though: heat evaporates battery fluid, weakening internal components and contributing to corrosion. To minimize such damage, park in the shade whenever possible. (book) Smithsonian Books, istock, BCAA p46-47_Toolkt.indd 47 FRESH WORKS Most batteries have a lifespan of three to five years. To confirm the manufacture date: check the two-character letter-number combination stamped on the top of the case or printed on its label. The letter indicates the month of manufacture ("A" for January; "B" for February, and so on), while the digit indicates the year ("7" for 2007; "8" for 2008). When purchasing, look for batteries less than six months old. And keep the sales receipt. Most repair shops require proof of purchase for batteries that fail within the warranty period. VOLTS IN A CAN One can be forgiven for not being immediately fascinated by a book titled The Battery: How Portable Power Sparked a Technological Revolution (2010, Smithsonian Books; $26). After all, the whopping 320-page tome hasn't appeared on any bestseller lists just yet. A welcome surprise, then, that science journalist Henry Schlesinger expertly melds history with deft narrative for an engaging tale about a device that helps power everyday necessities we often take for granted: vehicles, cellphones and alarm clocks, to name a few. Schlesinger paints Thomas Edison, for example — a pivotal figure in battery history — as a man obsessed with creating an electric car. The inventor gave up on the idea, in the early 1900s, only after 24,999 unsuccessful experiments and endless hours —Tracy Hyatt at the drawing board. WESTWORLD >> FA L L 2 0 1 1 47 8/17/11 12:25:31 PM