Napa Batteries

Battery maintenance

The health of your car battery is vital if you want to avoid being stranded at the roadside without the power to get you going again. As the beating heart of your vehicle, the battery is one of the most critical parts yet most neglected. Even the most powerful cars can be rendered immobile if the battery does not work. Here's a few simple tips for keeping your car's battery in best condition.

You should aim to have it checked by a professional at least twice a year. The battery will be checked during the annual MOT test but you should arrange for the battery to be tested again mid-way between MOT’s.

Although most modern batteries require no periodic maintenance other than to keep the connections to the terminal clean and the fixing bolts tight, your local National technician can carry out a FREE battery check to identify any faults that exist in a battery before any symptoms are felt by the driver. Detecting issues early on prevents unnecessary stress from an unexpected breakdown. The battery test is quick and easy only taking a few minutes of your time. The battery test also covers the starting and charging systems. The test will be printed off and you will be given a copy for your records. We would not recommend replacing the battery if the starter motor or charging system is the root cause of the issue.

If you have a flooded battery and wish to carry out some simple maintenance yourself, you can coat the terminals in petroleum jelly to prevent build-up of corrosive material. In the event of the loss of any electrolyte in the cells, they can be topped up with distilled or demineralised water until the plates are covered."

Should the battery need replacing our trained technicians will provide you with the best advice to help you decide on exactly the right type of battery for your car. This will depend on the engine size and the typical conditions in which you use your car. It is helpful for the technicians to know the following information:

  • How long you will be keeping the car?
  • If the majority of your driving is done in peak times around towns or cities?
  • Do you power auxiliary devices frequently i.e. DVD players, TV's, mobile phones?
  • What guarantee period you would like on the battery - National offer a 4 year and a 5 year depending on the spec of the battery.

Many vehicles have electronic systems that need to be re-programmed when a new battery is fitted, the diagnostic and validation equipment used by our technicians can ensure this is carried out.

So don't get caught out – arrange for your battery check by calling 0800 432 0460 to avoid becoming a 'breakdown' statistic.

How long does a car battery last?

A car battery will eventually deteriorate until it is unable to hold a charge, this will depend on a number of factors such as cold weather conditions, your driving habits and your vehicle type. Our NAPA batteries come with a 4 year guarantee and our NAPA Plus, NAPA AFB and NAPA AGM batteries come with a 5 year guarantee.

How do I prolong my batteries life?

Help prolong your car batteries life by following these simple suggestions for battery maintenance;

  1. Regularly driving the car or driving for longer distances if the car has been sat idle for a few days.
  2. When not in use, ensure the car doors are closed properly to prevent the battery being drained, unplug sat navs, phone chargers, DVD players etc. Make sure the lights, widow wipers, heated seats etc are all turned off before the car is started, all of these items place additional demands on the battery.
  3. Where possible protect the battery from the colder weather.

How do I install a new car battery?

Installing a new battery in a car can be tricky, so we recommend that you let one of our experts do the job for you.

Simply enter your registration in our battery look up tool to find the right battery for your vehicle and our team of experts will fit the battery for you – prices shown are FULLY FITTED with no hidden extras.

How to recycle a car battery?

Car batteries should never be disposed in a household bin, not only is this dangerous due to the hazardous waste but it is also against the law to do so. To dispose of your car battery, simply pop down to your local National Tyres and Autocare who will dispose of the battery responsibly.

National Tyres and Autocare stock the NAPA range of car batteries manufactured to OE (Original Equipment) specification and used by many prestigious vehicle manufacturers including Toyota, VW, Saab, Lexus, Ford, Lotus, Honda and many more. Our car battery range is suitable for all types of vehicles and our battery sizes cover all the popular vehicle fitments.

NAPA AGM (Start/Stop)

Start/stop Plus AGM

AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) is manufactured specifically for Micro-Hybrid vehicles fitted with the Start/Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration and other technologies designed to reduce fuel consumption, such as:
• Gear Shift Indicators
• High Efficiency Alternators
• Enhanced Starter Motor
• Energy Management System (EMS)

The NAPA Plus AGM batteries have increased cyclic performance. Not only can they cope with increased demand from fuel saving devices on the vehicle, they are also able to power a wider range of ancillary equipment than the AFB, even when the engine is in the idle position.


NAPA with a 4 year guarantee.

The NAPA range are flooded lead acid batteries and cover 97%+ of the European Car Parc. Although new technologies are emerging, NAPA will continue to be fitted to the majority of vehicles on the road.

The entire range are produced on the same production lines that manufacture batteries for Original Equipment, using the same technology, man power, equipment, controls and quality inspections approved by the car manufacturers to whom they are supplied. This commitment ensures high performance, long service life and improved reliability making the NAPA range ideal for the vehicles of today.


NAPA Plus with a 5 year guarantee

The NAPA Plus range has been specifically designed to exceed O.E specification and to offer superior performance, with increased service life, in even the most demanding conditions.

With over 85% coverage of the European Car Parc, the NAPA Plus range is suited to those who demand more from their vehicle. Specifically designed to support vehicles with an increased number of 'in car electrical loads', such as Media Players or Satellite Navigation Systems, the NAPA Plus exceeds consumer expectations.

What does my battery do?

Without a charged battery - even the most powerful car is rendered immobile. Yet the battery is often one of the most neglected components in the entire car. Here's how to make sure that you keep your car's battery in tip-top condition and avoid being stranded at the roadside without the power to get you going again.


Battery

Connection

The battery is most commonly located under the bonnet but in some cars it can be found elsewhere like under the floor in the boot. The two grey coloured posts on top of the battery are called 'terminals' and are marked ( + ) for positive and ( - ) for negative.

To avoid damaging the electrical system, the terminals should be connected to the appropriate electrical lead. If in doubt, consult your car's handbook or better still - leave it to the professionals at National.


Charging

Providing your car's alternator and drive belt are in good condition - the battery is re-charged automatically as you drive. In some cases, it can be removed from the car and connected to a domestic mains-powered battery charger - but care must be taken as the unit is heavy and contains sulphuric acid so it could be dangerous if dropped. If your car won't start a possible option is connect flat battery to another car's battery with jump leads ensuring that the leads are connected observing the correct polarity ( + ) and ( - ), however, ensure you refer to the manufacturer's handbook first. Some damage could result to the ECU in some cars if they are jump started, always check the manufacturer's handbook first.

Care and Maintenances

Most modern batteries require no periodic maintenance other than to keep the connections to the terminal clean and the fixing bolts tight. You can coat the terminals in petroleum jelly to prevent build up of corrosive material. In the event of the loss of any electrolyte in the cells, they can be topped up with distilled or demineralised water until the plates are covered..

Battery diagram


Battery Check and Replacement

Eventually the internal condition of the battery deteriorates until it is unable to hold a charge and the battery has to be replaced. On a petrol engine car the first symptom of this is usually that it feels sluggish when you start the car. On a diesel engine car, it will usually just fail to start due to the higher cranking power needed for diesel.

In-car entertainment and other electrical devices put your battery under even more strain meaning that it's now more important than ever to have your battery checked. Every day around 1,000 vehicles break down due to battery failure and faulty batteries are one of the main reasons for breakdown calls.

Your local National technician can carry out a FREE battery check which only takes a few minutes and will advise you on exactly the right type of battery for your car depending on the engine size and the typical conditions in which you use your car.

So don't get caught out – arrange for your battery check by calling 0800 432 0460 to avoid becoming a 'breakdown' statistic.


National guarantees - total peace of mind

Even the best battery can fail - and the consequences can be inconvenient and expensive! That's where National's superb battery guarantee comes in, offering total peace of mind. Should any fault occur with your battery National offer a full range of guarantees. At National - we recommend and fit only the best and most suitable battery for your car.

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