Battery Maintenance

Close up of a box of tools

Extend Battery Life with Good Maintenance

One way to ensure that your powersports vehicle will start up faithfully every time you need it is by maintaining the battery properly. Whether you love to ride winter or summer, on a snowmobile, ATV, UTV, PWC, or dirt bike, you want to be able to turn your machine off and take a break without any doubt that it will roar back to life when you hit the ignition.

The good news is that you can make a difference in battery life. No matter what type of vehicle you’ve got, you can extend the life of your battery with proper care and maintenance. Here’s a guide from your friends at DaSilva Motorsports in Moultonborough and Hampstead, New Hampshire. Please reach out to our team with questions, and keep us in mind when you need service on your powersports vehicle, or you’re ready to buy a new machine.

Preseason Inspection

Part of getting ready for your first ride of the season is doing a preseason inspection of the whole machine. This should include a good look at the battery.

Take these steps to assess the overall condition of the battery and get it ready for the season.

  • Inspect the case. If the sides are bulging sides, it probably froze. A frozen battery should be replaced. 
  • If the terminals are dirty, remove the battery and clean the terminals with a solution of baking soda and water. Spread waterproof grease or petroleum jelly on the terminals to prevent corrosion. 
  • Check battery hold-downs to make sure it’s secure on your machine. 
  • Check that the cables are secure and there are no loose connections.

For a conventional lead-acid battery:

  • Carefully remove the caps and check the acid level. Fill with distilled water if necessary. 
  • Inspect the exhaust tube to ensure there are no kinks or clogs.

During the Season

Since powersports vehicles often go several weeks or longer without being turned on, the battery needs more attention than a typical car battery. Recharge your battery after each use to make sure it’s ready the next time you want to use it. Keep the terminals free of dirt and moisture.

Avoiding Battery Drain

Your main concern is battery drain. Each day it is idle, it loses a little charge. Boost the charge by running it for 15-20 minutes every two weeks. If there will be long idle stretches, consider alternative methods for keeping the battery charged.

For example, you can hook a battery tender up to the battery. This device plugs into a standard AC outlet and keeps your battery charged and ready to roll. You can also use this to keep batteries charged during the off-season.

End of Season

Remove batteries so you can store them above 32°F. Use a battery tender to keep it charged so it will be fully functional when riding season returns. Letting the battery drain can reduce its lifespan.

Please reach out to the team at DaSilva Motorsports for more information. We’ve got parts and service, and we offer financing, too! You’ll find us in Moultonborough and Hampstead, New Hampshire.

Moultonborough

(603) 253-6688

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