FAQs & Handy Tips

You don't have to wait until you break down to change your battery. Avoid breakdown's by getting your battery tested.

Additionally, maintaining a correct electrolyte level ensures that the level is not too high or to low. If you use distilled or deionised water and never over fill, your battery will serve you well. Maintenance-free batteries will usually not require topping up. Low maintenance batteries require the addition of water only once or twice per year depending on conditions.

Make sure battery terminals and cable connections are clean and tight, a thin layer of petroleum jelly can help reduce corrosion. Overcharging produces rapid deterioration and corrosion which shortens battery life, a battery needing to be topped up continually with water is a sure sign that the car's electrical system requires careful checking, this may also affect a maintenance free battery.

Keep in mind that dirt on a battery's surface leads to discharge and corrosion. Avoid spilling oil or grease onto the top of the battery. To remove dirt or moisture, wash with a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water, rinse after with clear water and ensure vent plugs are in place at all times.

Batteries contain hydrogen gas and air in a volatile mixture which is easily ignited, so keep flames or sparks away from the battery at all times. Batteries contain sulphuric acid. Never add acid to cells and keep acid away from eyes, skin, clothing or any other material which may become damaged. If contamination occurs, use large amounts of water to neutralise and flush acid away.

A little regular maintenance can keep your battery in excellent condition for reliable use.

During the Winter months, it is a good idea to run your air conditioner periodically. This keeps the seals in good order and helps to maintain a regular use cycle. Additionally, using your air conditioner with your Demister, when your front windscreen is difficult to see through, will help clear it away in no time at all. This also helps keep your unit humming along during the times when the weather is cold, ready for the Summer months ahead.

Remember to have it checked regularly to ensure that it does not require a regas - then your Summer days (and nights!) of driving in a cool vehicle will be trouble free.

You turn the key and nothing happens.

It's either your battery, your starter motor or your alternator and in today's more complex motor cars its not something you can fix with a screwdriver while holding a torch in your mouth.

You want it fixed but you don't want it half fixed so that it happens again a few days later. If there's a fault, we'll find it. Not every problem can be solved by fitting a new battery and you can't do proper job on the side of the road.

The most common questioned asked is " do I need an extra battery for my caravan" really the question should be "how can I better charge my caravan batter? Autospark recommend fitting a Redarc Battery Management System.

Fact - Most caravans do not have adequate facilities to properly charge a deep cycle battery.

All of our people are qualified technicians and the quality of our work is guaranteed.

When your car comes to us we know we can isolate the problem accurately, and if we spot any potential trouble we tell you in plenty of time so you know when you have to do something about it.

We want your trust and we need your goodwill. That how good companies grow and prosper and we plan to be here for a long time.

I have a clicking noise when I try to start my car, what could it be?

Quite often this is a result of a dirty battery terminal, but it may also be your battery has failed. We can help with a replacement or the right advice you can trust.

Most modern vehicles have complex computer systems that need to be protected when the vehicle is being jump started. You should always take a few minutes to find out the reasons for the flat battery (ie. Lights left on, ) then it is fine to jump start the car but if you suspect an internal battery fault or some other fault in the electrical system it is best left to the experts to avoid causing further damage.

Where a specific procedure is not available the following procedure can be followed:

• Before proceeding ensure that the ignition of both vehicles and anything that could cause an electrical load such as headlights, interior lights are turned off.
• Contact the red lead to the positive (+) terminal of the discharge battery
• Contact the other end of the same red lead to the positive (+) terminal of the booster battery.
• Contact the black lead to the negative (-) terminal of the booster battery
• Contact the other end of the same black lead to a solid stationary metal component on the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
  
  

Jump leads with a voltage surge component will help prevent damage to electronics caused by voltage spikes.