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4 Ways to Maintain a Honda Battery

4 Ways to Maintain a Honda Battery

The battery of your Honda vehicle is, in many ways, its heartbeat. Without it functioning correctly, you won’t get very far down the road, if at all, and winter conditions can be particularly hard on your components! Of course, combined with the high-efficiency designs and features of genuine Honda batteries, batteries tend to last a long time with minimal maintenance. And, if you require service, our team here at Barrhaven Honda is happy to help in any way we can. 

With that said, what are some ways you can prolong your battery’s condition and slow the progression of cell depreciation? As it turns out, there are several precautions you can take as a responsible vehicle owner. With winter indeed on its way, let’s explore the best four ways to maintain a Honda battery.

Regular Battery Testing

Right now – the middle of autumn before the first heavy snowfall – is the time to get your Honda battery tested. This is an important step to take as it ensures you’ll make it through the next intense Canadian winter without any risk of it dying. A local dealership with plenty of servicing and diagnostics experience is by far the best option as we can determine whether your battery is struggling. 

At Barrhaven Honda, for example, we’ll carefully inspect the integrated charging system and voltage along with the remaining capacity and current degradation level (this is normal on all batteries). We’ll let you know whether it needs to be swapped out or if it’s safe to wait another winter. At the same time, our service technicians can inspect your vehicle to ensure it’s ready for the snow and ice to come, checking for signs of dirt, corrosion, loose parts, and otherwise.

Regular Driving and Keeping the Battery Active

We know, it gets chilly out there this time of year. Sometimes folks put off errands until they can do it all at once in the winter, saving going out in the snow and cold too much. However, this isn’t healthy for your battery, as you’re therefore letting it sit idle. Doing so accelerates degradation and even introduces a risk of the battery freezing – the colder it gets below freezing, the more power the vehicle requires. 

Even if you pop out for groceries for ten minutes or take the vehicle around the neighbourhood for a leisurely drive once a day – say, for 10 to 20 minutes at a minimum – you can minimize this degradation and freezing risk by keeping the battery regularly active. In addition, you’ll likely encounter fewer slow start-ups, plus you’ll be able to identify any problems with your vehicle’s handling or performance more easily since you’ll be using it every day.  

Keep Your Battery Warm When Parked

Of course, there are also physical ways to avoid the risk of a frozen battery. Parking your Honda inside a sufficiently insulated garage that keeps out much of the cold is one way. You should also consider keeping your gas tank topped up regularly and using thermal blankets. As a last-ditch effort, try to park out of the wind, such as along a fence, in a parking area flanked by exterior walls, or otherwise. Wind can be frigid and stinging in the wintertime, so this will safeguard your battery from some seriously intense blasts of coldness. 

Unplug and Recharge

Do you almost always drive with your phone plugged in, an external GPS device, or otherwise? These systems might be designed for energy efficiency, but they still take a toll on your vehicle’s battery. In fact, they gradually drain your battery even while you’re not actively using them – just remaining plugged in and inactive is enough. The more work any vehicle battery must do, the more strain it will be placed under, especially during freezing conditions outdoors when it’s already pushing itself quite hard!

Some workarounds here include decluttering your life of excess devices – a smartphone for emergencies is typically sufficient, and most recent Hondas already include a wide range of driver assistance features that make getting around, parking, and more a lot easier. Any fans, portable battery packs for tablets or phones, or other devices should be removed and not used during the winter months if you want to get the most out of your battery. If you absolutely must use a charger, consider one with a trickle charge feature that takes sips of your vehicle’s battery rather than great big gulps.

These are just some of the ways you’ll be able to take good care of your Honda’s battery this winter and beyond. Look after your vehicle and it will look after you when on the road! For assistance with any required servicing, such as our battery inspections, reach out to us at Barrhaven Honda today. We’re happy to ensure peace of mind and satisfaction when it comes to any components of your go-to vehicle!