It’s easy to overlook the role that a battery plays in vehicle operation—until it starts malfunctioning. A semitrailer’s battery, however, is a critical semi part. Without it, a vehicle won’t start. To ensure your car, pickup truck, SUV, or semi always starts—and runs—reliably, here's what you should know about maintaining its battery. 

How to Prevent a Battery From Dying

Like all truck and semi parts, batteries aren’t built to last forever. Normal wear and tear take their toll as do dramatic temperature shifts and parasitic drains. To prevent extreme heat from killing a battery, store your vehicle in a garage, if possible. In addition, top off the electrolyte whenever it gets low, especially during the summer months. A battery’s electrolyte solution evaporates in the heat. Without it, battery performance is hindered. 

To prevent parasitic drains, always turn off headlights and interior lights before getting out of your vehicle. If something other than the lights drains the battery while the vehicle is turned off, try to identify the root of the problem by trial and error or with the help of an ammeter—a device to measure electric current. You’ll need to jump-start your engine every time you want to drive if your battery is dead. 

How to Jump-Start a Dead Battery 

To jump-start a dead battery, you’ll need a pair of jumper cables and another vehicle with a working battery. After turning off that vehicle, find the positive terminal on the dead battery, and attach one of the red cables to it. Attach the other end to the working battery’s positive terminal. Then, affix one of the black cables to its negative terminal. To ground the circuit and prevent sparking, attach the final end to a metal surface under the dead car’s hood far from the battery.

Turn on the working vehicle, and let it run for a few minutes before attempting to jump-start the dead battery. If the ignition doesn’t turn, retry after a few more minutes. Once it starts, remove the cables in the reverse order, and drive for at least 20 minutes to charge the battery.

If you have to jump-start your car frequently, the battery may no longer be capable of holding a charge. To replace it with a new one, turn to George J. Hust Co. Located in Cincinnati, OH, this automotive and electrical parts supplier has been in business for more than 80 years. From semi parts to landscaping equipment, they’ve got everything you need to ensure your fleet is always operable. To see the brands they carry, visit their website, or call (513) 681-3120 to place an order for truck, tractor, or semi parts.