Picture the scene: you're in the middle of the Alentejo, in 40-degree heat, the boot full of inflatables and watermelons, and you stop at a service station to buy a cold water. When you get back to the car, you turn the key and... nothing. Just a sad, asthmatic "click-click-click".
The battery died. And with it, your patience and the start of your holiday.
Getting stranded because of the battery is one of the most common (and most annoying) problems in summer. Extreme heat finishes them off as fast as polar cold. But Martin has 3 tips so you don't end up in this horror movie:
1. The Headlight Test (Simple and Effective) 💡
You don't need to be a mechanic. At night, point the car's headlights at a wall and, with the car in neutral, give it a small rev. If the headlights get brighter when you accelerate and dimmer when you let it idle, it's a sign that the alternator is trying to compensate for a battery that's already asking for retirement.
2. Clean the Gunk off the Terminals 🧽
Open the bonnet and look at the battery terminals (those metal pieces where the cables connect). Are they covered with a white or greenish powder that looks like mould? That's corrosion and it's stealing your car's energy.
- How to fix it: You can clean it easily with a wire brush and a mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda. (With the car switched off, of course!)
3. Don't Be the "Parking Lot DJ" 🎵
Are you waiting for your girlfriend in the car park, with the engine off, but the air conditioning at full blast, the four-way flashers on, the radio pumping and your phone charging? Congratulations, you're murdering your battery. When the engine is off, the one paying for that whole party is the battery. If you do this for half an hour, get the jumper cables ready.
Has the Battery Really Died? Leave it to Multipark!
If your battery is more than 4 years old, the chances of it leaving you stranded soon are high. And do you know the worst time for that to happen? When you come back from a 15-day holiday, arrive at the airport at dawn, go to start your car and it's dead.
But if you've used Multipark's Valet Parking service, that problem doesn't even exist for you.
While you're sipping margaritas on the beach, we can take care of your car. We offer extra services like battery replacement, tyre pressure check and even a full wash.
You arrive home from your trip, your car has a brand-new battery, it's gleaming inside and out, and our driver hands you the key at the terminal door. No tow trucks, no stress, no sweating it.
Travel with peace of mind. Book your Valet Parking and add the battery service on the Multipark site!
