Posted in A Moment in My Life

“Don’t Let This Happen to You”

A Moment in My Life – Friday, October 2, 2020

Earlier in the week, my car engine wouldn’t turn over, but there was enough juice to turn on the dashboard panel, the radio and activate the windows, but the engine wouldn’t start up. The last thing I suspected was the battery since it was only one and a half years old. If it weren’t for my houseguests arriving the next day, I would’ve taken action and called the provider who sold me this battery.

As luck would have it, I didn’t have time to deal with that issue. In the meantime, my friend, Wizard, rattled off possibilities that could drain a good battery. He started with a bad alternator. He added that if the serpentine belt were loose, it would be unable to charge the battery, or the serpentine belt needed replacement. My stomach was tightening and twisting inside me as I read each possibility. Ugh. My car isn’t old enough to have these problems! I don’t have time or the strength to deal with these issues right now. Well, it would never be a good time. For now, I have a brand-new battery installed, and whatever the reason, I would have to deal with it after my house guests left.

Then, Wizard said, “I forgot one other thing that will run down a battery; taking short trips—stop and go errands, which I think happened to you. At least once a month, take your car out for a spin on the freeway for at least 20 minutes at freeway speeds.”  

A lightbulb went off! Now, you’re talking my language. Wizard hit it on the nose. It’s a realistic possibility for my situation. That’s what I’ve been doing. Since Shelter in Place, I thought I kept my car battery healthy by driving once a week to run errands, but they were all local short hops, which I didn’t realize wasn’t enough to give my car battery a good charge. 

I know I’m not alone. Many of you share my dilemma of not having longer distances to drive to, and that’s why I am writing this to alert you not to let this happen to you. If you are on the same boat as me, start planning a nice little cruise down the freeway once a month to prevent damaging your car battery’s health like I did.  

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