Battery

Under normal conditions the battery will need very little maintenance. Most should be expected to last 5 years before they need replacing.

If your car is a few years old it's worth checking the battery prior to the onset of cold and damp weather, as these conditions can contribute to a deterioration in the battery.

The important thing to check is the electrolyte level. If battery level is low, top up with distilled water (unless the battery is a maintenance free one). You can check the level by looking at what's known as the 'magic eye'. This is a glass button usually found on top of the battery. Remove the battery cover; if the magic eye is green, all is ok. If it's colourless or yellow the level is too low. If it's black the battery needs charging.

If your battery doesn't have a magic eye, it will instead have markings to the side showing 'max' and 'min', with an indicator between the two. If the indicator is nearest to the max then all's ok.

Do not forget that battery acid is highly corrosive to skin and paint work.

Check the battery connections, ensuring thay are tight and free from corrosion.

Non-starts due to battery problems account for almost 50 per cent of all requests for breakdown assistance.  With some simple maintenance and preventative action as soon as the battery starts to fail, many of these breakdowns could be avoided. Tell-tale signs include difficulties in turning the engine over on cold mornings and after the car has been parked up for a long period.

To charge a battery you need to use a specialist battery charger. If you have the space to store one, these are easy to use. However, if you don't have one, take your car to a garage and ask them to charge it for you. Garages will usually use what's known as a fast-charger which considerably speeds up the process.