If you love quality sound, aftermarket stereos are an excellent addition to your vehicle. These stereos can be connected to speakers and subwoofers that provide crisp, clear and deep tones. Drivers rarely regret the decision to replace factory stereos with more efficient and effective car audio equipment.
However, this new equipment will inevitably draw more power from your car battery. Subwoofers, stereos and internal speakers all require more 'juice' and may end up exerting a toll on an old or damaged battery. After installing new car audio equipment, don't forget to take better care of your battery.
Follow these critical maintenance tips to enjoy better audio and driving performance.
Avoid turning on the subwoofer while your car isn't running
Similar to how leaving the headlights on will result in a drained battery, leaving your subwoofer on could cause battery drainage. When your vehicle is off, the alternator isn't charging your battery. Therefore, turning on your stereo and enjoying the music (while your car is off) may result in a completely drained battery after some time.
The older your battery is, the more likely it is to become drained in a short amount of time. If you wish to listen to your audio system when the vehicle is off, make sure you turn on the engine for 15- to 20-minute intervals.
Charge your battery regularly
The alternator typically charges your battery when the car is running. The longer your vehicle is on, the more charge your battery will receive. This is one of the reasons why drivers are encouraged to take longer trips on a regular basis. An insufficiently charged battery will end up with a shorter lifespan and more frequent repairs down the road. But why is all this relevant to your car audio equipment?
If your car battery doesn't have enough charge, it can't power up your audio equipment. You may even notice that your lights dim whenever the bass hits or the sound on your subwoofers and speakers occasionally become distorted.
These issues can be fixed by keeping your battery sufficiently charged. If you often take short commutes, occasionally drive for a longer distance or keep your vehicle running in the driveway.
Clean the terminals
Dirty or corroded battery terminals may result in an insufficiently charged battery. Make sure these terminals are regularly cleaned and inspected by your mechanic.
Purchase a newer battery
Depending on the size of your subwoofer, it may be a good idea to install a new car battery. Batteries that are over 3 years old may have trouble keeping enough charge or transmitting enough power to your audio equipment.
For more information about car batteries, reach out to an auto parts supplier.
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