It is good practice to clean the inside of the terminal with a wire brush and remove any other corrosion.
Replace the battery hold down and ensure the battery is secure.
Replace the positive terminal and tighten.
Replace the negative terminal and tighten. The negative terminal should always be replaced last.
Never over tighten or hammer terminal onto the battery as this can damage the posts.
Some form of corrosion protection over the terminals is a good idea, we use a spray designed to reduce
corrosion, but grease or petroleum jelly also works fine.
How do I jump start my vehicle?
Jump starting can cause serious injury, if you are unsure of what you are doing call roadside assistance of someone
experienced for help.
Read your owner’s manual, some car manufacturers don’t allow jump starting, also sometimes the battery is
not under the bonnet but there will usually be jump start terminals under the bonnet.
1. Turn the ignition in both cars to “off”
2. Connect the red (positive) cable to the dead cars positive battery post.
3. Connect the other end of the red (positive) cable to the live cars positive battery post.
4. Connect one end of the black (negative) cable to the live cars negative battery post.
5. Locate an unpainted metal part of the dead cars engine. The engine manifold is a good position. Connect
the unused end of the black (negative) cable to this location.
6. Start the good cars engine.
7. Start the dead cars engine. If it doesn’t crank wait for 2-3 minutes and try again.
8. If it still doesn’t crank check all connections.
9. As soon as the dead car starts you can disconnect the cables, you should disconnect in the reverse order.
How long should my battery last?
This is a difficult one to answer because it depends on numerous factors. The main factors are how often the vehicle
is being used, how well it is charged, how well it is maintained, high temperatures and the application. Battery life
has become shorter as energy requirements in modern vehicles have increased.
A battery prefers to be used regularly or regularly charged. Many modern vehicles have a constant drain even when
the ignition is off which will flatten the battery and shorten the life if the vehicle is not being used regularly. Vehicles
now days have a lot more electrical accessories fitted which puts added strain on the battery.
Another factor that is becoming more important is locking your car. Modern vehicles, especially luxury cars have
many computers and accessories still running when the key is removed, they don’t go to “sleep” until the car is
locked. So even if you car is in a locked garage it is good practice to lock your car to improve battery life.
What is a “Calcium” battery?
A Calcium battery is a still a lead acid battery; they are usually sealed maintenance free. Calcium replaces antimony
in the plates of the battery to give it some advantages including improved resistance to corrosion, no excessive
gassing, less water usage and lower self discharge. Silver is another additive used by some manufacturers, the
addition of silver enables the battery to be more resilient to high temperatures.
Calcium batteries require a higher charge voltage than conventional batteries. If used in a deep cycle situation it is
advisable to use a charger designed for calcium batteries of has a calcium charging mode to get the maximum life
out of the battery.
What is a marine battery?
Our marine batteries are designed to run small electrical loads and are “hybrid” batteries. They also have extra
resistance to vibration and a dual terminal for adding extra accessories.
What is the difference between wet cell, AGM and Gel batteries?