October 12, 2010

USRider offers tips to avoid a dead battery

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2010) – With fall moving steadily toward winter, this is the time of the year when weak batteries reveal themselves as the temperature drops, says Mark Cole, managing member for USRider, the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians.

While USRider and other motor plans are available to assist motorists when their batteries fail, USRider provides some common sense suggestions to avoid the inconvenience of a dead battery.

If your battery is more than five years old, you are living on borrowed time. While some batteries have a 96-month (or eight-year) warranty, most batteries are warranted for 36 or 60 months.

The first sign of a weak battery is the time to take action or you could find yourself stranded, or inconvenienced at best. If your battery is weak and is within its warranty period, return to the retailer you purchased the battery from, or a dealer, for possible replacement, or pro-rated reimbursement.

Additionally, it is important that your battery is properly install and maintained to ensure top performance. Battery posts and cables should be clean and free of corrosion. When installing a new battery insist that the installer uses dielectric grease to ensure good continuity. Worn battery cables should be replaced, as they will prevent the battery from charging and discharging properly.

It is also important that you purchase a battery that is properly rated for your vehicle, and purchase a high-quality battery from a reputable manufacturer. Consumerreports.org is a good source for battery performance and dependability information.

While many newer batteries are maintenance-free, or sealed, now that summer is over it is a good time to check the electrolyte fluid levels on low-maintenance batteries that have removable vent caps. If your battery can be refilled, remove all of the six vent caps and check the electrolyte levels. You will see an indicator line on the side of the cells – be sure to check each one individually, and do not overfill. When filling, use distilled water and be sure to pour slowly, and use safety glasses. When finished wipe off the top of the battery and make sure the posts are clean and free of corrosion.

Maintenance-free batteries will usually have a built-in eye to check the charge status. If the eye is green, the battery is properly charged; if it is black, it is discharged.

Any time you park your trailer for 90 days or more, it is a good time to remove and charge your breakaway battery. Always make sure that low-maintenance batteries have sufficient electrolyte fluids prior to charging, or you can ruin your battery.

If you are uncertain about your battery, consult a trusted ASE-certified mechanic to perform a load test to check the condition of the battery.

The bottom line is if the battery is weak, it is better to be proactive replace on your terms, rather be reactive and be inconvenienced, or stranded.

Through its Equestrian Motor Plan, USRider provides emergency road service to its Members in the lower 48 states as well as Alaska and Canada. Designed for those who travel with horses, USRider provides emergency roadside assistance and towing services, along with other travel-related benefits geared especially toward horse owners, such as towing up to 100 miles plus roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling and veterinary referrals.

For more information about USRider and more equine trailer safety tips, visit the USRider website at http://www.usrider.org online or call (800) 844-1409.