by Kaeli Gardner
VehicleMD Contributing Writer
Originally published in Summer 2011 Issue

The welcome warmth of summer has arrived at last, and with it comes the all-too-familiar itch to settle into your bucket seat for a long day's drive powered by too much coffee and junk food. Yes, it's road trip time once again—but before you head out on that highway, please make sure you give your car the requisite once-over so you're not surprised and stranded on a lonely stretch of road in the middle of nowhere (which is where such events invariably occur). You know the basics—oil, tire pressure, tread depth, but I also want you to pay a little attention to your battery.

First, a story. I haven't always been a font of automotive advice. Ten years ago I didn't know my headlight from a handsaw. One normal day I made my way to my car and, turning the key in my ignition, was greeted by a terrible sound—BOOM! The silence that followed was intense. What had just happened? Did my engine just really go boom? That can't be good. Then I noticed that I had no power—not even the faint glow of a struggling dashboard clock. With a pained sigh, I pulled the hood release and went into the belly of the beast. Long story short—my battery caps had blown off! Little did I know, pressure had been building inside my six-year-old battery. The chemical reaction inside your battery creates oxygen, and the vents in older batteries tend to clog so the oxygen builds up inside until...BOOM! I'd been driving a time bomb!

Now I wouldn't wish for anyone, least of all you, dear readers, to suffer the same fate. So, I give you Kaeli's Top Five Battery Tips:

1. Seek out the shade!
According to the Car Care Council, excessive heat and overcharging are two of the main reasons for shortened battery life.

2. Disconnect it!
Not driving for a while? Disconnect the connector from the negative terminal of your battery if you know the car will not be driven for two weeks or longer. This will help prevent a gradual drain from powering the clock and other passive items. Make sure you keep the connector away from the battery when you close the hood.

3. Keep it clean!
Clean the battery terminals on the top of the battery every three months or so with a wire brush. This ensures there's nothing between the terminals and the connectors to interrupt the power supply. Also, ensure the terminals are nice and tight to prevent power drainage which may make it difficult to start your car.

4. Test it!
If you've had your battery for a year or more, it's probably a good idea to have it tested. Make it a part of your maintenance routine—whenever you have your oil changed, ask for a load test. If you haven't had your battery tested in a while, head to your trusted service provider or a local parts store and ask them to test it for you.

5. Replace it!
This is the biggie that I can't stress enough. If your battery is more than three years old, it's time to think about replacing it. Batteries should be replaced every three to five years. Also, don't skimp on the battery purchase if you're able. A good battery should come with a three-year replacement guarantee at the very least.

Follow these tips as you hit the road this summer, and may all your road trips be happy ones!

KAELI GARDNER lives in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee where she works as a writer, artist and web marketing manager for Ask Patty, helping to empower women nationwide to take control of their own vehicle repair. You can read more of her wisdom and wit at the AskPatty.com blog.