You may not know it but your car battery is more sensitive than you thought it could be. From inside and out, car owners should consider it as important as the car itself.

Due to COVID-19, the Malaysian government has decided to implement the Movement Control Order (MCO). The imposed restriction on public movement and gatherings caused the majority of people staying at home and not using their car for a long period of time. This can greatly affect their car and its battery’s well-being; take note that lack of regular use can lead to self-discharge which we can avoid by heeding to these advices.

Easy maintenance tips to keep your battery charged during the MCO period

1. Drive your car for at least 15 minutes – During the MCO period, Malaysians are still allowed to go out to buy necessities. If you have more than one car at home, suggest you drive every car to keep it charged during driving.

• How does the battery get charged? Your car battery will be charged by the alternator. The alternator provides electricity to keep it charged while you are driving.

2. If you are not able to drive your car, what else can you do?

• Rev your engine – Lack of regular use can cause a flat battery, make sure to start your engine from time to time and rev it around 2,000 rpm for 5 minutes and another 10 minutes to idle. This can help it avoid sudden discharge. Remember to rev your engine because if you don’t rev the engine and leave it idle for 15 minutes to 20 minutes, the battery never truly gets recharged.

Note: Drive your car or rev the engine at least once a week to keep the battery charged. While you are at it, remember to not rev your car if the battery is already dead, it will just wear out the alternator. If a dead battery is already present, proceed on changing it to a newer one.

Learn how to install your car battery

You may or may not be able to reach your trusted mechanic during this period but no worries as you can install your car battery on your own! How? That’s easy, just remind yourself to heed a few safety measures and precautions before proceeding and you are good to go. Additionally, be careful not to short it with tools, etc when replacing it.

Step 1 – Switch off the engine and remove the key. Keep sparks, flames, and lighted cigarettes away from the battery.

Step 2 – Disconnect it by removing the negative cable first followed by the positive cable.

Step 3 – Loosen its hold-down bracket, then remove the old battery.

Step 4 – Install the new battery and secure the hold-down bracket until it is tightly fixed. Do not over fasten, as it would cause damage to the casing and lid.

Step 5 – Reconnect it by installing the positive cable first followed by the negative cable.

Now you have learned something new, are you ready to do it on your own? Just remember that not every vehicle is the same, so it is also better to refer to your owner’s manual for safety. Also, note that battery to be installed must be in accordance with the vehicle specification and in good condition. Regular maintenance is important during this MCO period so better heed all the advice to conserve its life.

Additional Reminders

1. Turn the lights off – If you leave your car light on for a long time it may drain your battery. Leaving your headlights, parking lights, or hazard warning lights can cause a sudden discharge as it uses a lot of energy. Even if you turn your engine off, these lights remain on unless you turn it off directly.
2. Close your car doors – This is a rare occurrence but if you remember leaving your car doors open the night before, you might want to correct that mistake as soon as possible. Open doors can automatically turn on the dome or inside light, leaving it open and the lights on can lead to a sudden discharge. Make sure to check your car doors properly before calling it a day.
3. Unplug electronic gadgets – Conserving energy comes in many ways, this includes unplugging your phone charger, dashcam, and any electrical system you usually use while you are driving. Electronic gadgets use energy from your car’s engine or battery, by letting them on or plugged while staying at home can cause a sudden discharge from occurring. By unplugging any electronic devices may help to save your car battery from possible depletion or discharge.

What to do with a flat battery?

If you wish to change your dead battery by a professional just call Century Battery Assist at 1800-22-8837 or 1300-22-8837. Delivery and installation are on us, all you have to do is call and we’ll be there in a jiffy. Century Battery Assist service is available 8 am to 6 pm, during the Movement Control Order period. Century Battery Assist is covering the following areas:

• Klang Valley
• Johor – Johor Bharu, Pontian, Kulai, Pasir Gudang, Skudai
• Pulau Pinang – Penang Island, Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai
• Negeri Sembilan – Seremban, Nilai, Senawang, Sendayan
• Melaka – Melaka Town, Jasin, Bamban, Cheng, Batu Berendam, Air Keroh, Alor Gajah
• Kedah – Sg Petani, Kulim
• Perak – Ipoh town, Simpang Pulai, Taiping, Kemunting
• Kelantan – Kota Bahru town

If you are in Klang Valley and you want a fast and easy purchase, you may visit our Official Store at Lazada and Shopee during Movement Control Order period.

In other cases, you may contact the battery store near your area. Use our Dealer Finder to check which dealer is in your area.

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