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The main purpose of a car battery is to start the engine. An average car uses more than three hundred amperes for a few seconds in order to start a car engine. This is enough electricity to light up over three hundred fluorescent light bulbs. It also provides power for the lighting, audio system and other accessories. Considering its vital function, it is important that you do not take your car battery for granted.
A word of caution when dealing with car batteries – batteries contain sulphuric acid and should always be kept away from skin, clothing and any other material which may become corroded. If contamination occurs, use large amounts of water to neutralise and flush the acid away. Rubber Gloves should always be worn when working with any potentially harmful fluids from your car such as battery acid.
Batteries that are well maintained can last for up to two years. For a battery to be kept in good working order, there are certain preventive measures one can take to ensure that the nightmare of flat batteries does not happen to oneself. Get into the habit of turning off all controls – including lights, the heated rear window and radio before turning off the engine when you leave the car. This will extend the life of the battery and reduce the chances of a flat battery. Another way of improving the lifespan of your battery is to protect the battery from high temperatures inside the engine bay. Due to the way batteries are made and operate, high temperatures cause them to deteriorate faster. In our warm climate, the electrolyte levels need to be checked more frequently as a result of the higher temperatures. Check the battery electrolyte level at least once a week if possible and top up to the required level if necessary. Avoid overfilling as the warm climate increases the chance of overflowing due to expansion of the electrolyte.
The battery terminals and cables should also be checked periodically for corrosion, which if present, should be removed. Battery terminals should also be tight. The battery serves as a filter and regulator in the electrical system of the car and it if it should become disconnected while the engine is on, it could cause extensive and expensive damage to the car. The top of the battery should also be kept clean if possible. One often-overlooked check is the tension of the alternator belt. If the tension of the alternator belt is too slack, the alternator will not charge and this will increase the chances of the battery losing its charge, as the energy it dissipates while in use is not replenished by the charging of the alternator.
When the battery is weak, you will notice that the headlights and the horn are weak, and the vehicle is slow in cranking.
Call 6748 9911 for AA’s 24-hour car battery maintenance service.
Aggie Krasnolucka
is Programmes Director at the FIA Foundation where she looks after its portfolio of road safety interventions as well as leads the Motorcycle Initiative – a global hub of interventions working towards improving motorcycle safety across areas of helmet safety, infrastructure, technology, and legislation.
Previously, she worked across different areas of the international development context including community outreach and engagement, road safety, access to health, private public partnerships as well as fundraising and communications. Aggie holds a master’s degree in social anthropology as well as linguistics and literature.
Professor Wong
is currently a Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, University Putra Malaysia. He has been serving the department and the University since 1997. During his service, Professor Wong was seconded to Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), a Statutory Body in Malaysia (with MIROS Act 2012) and a national research institute in Malaysia in December 2007 as the Director of Vehicle Safety and Biomechanics Research Centre. He was then appointed as the Director-General of MIROS in August 2011. His 10-year secondment to MIROS ended in September 2017 and was appointed to be the MIROS Board Director. In February 2022, Professor Wong is appointed as the Chairman of MIROS Board of Directors. Professor Wong is also appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Qatar University. He served as the Special Advisor on Road Safety to the Minister of Transport and Communications Myanmar till 2021. He was appointed to serve in the Steering Committee of the United Nations Road Safety Fund from 2022 to 2024. Recently Professor Wong was appointed as the Fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia.
Professor Wong has driven the drafting, deliberation and enactment of MIROS Act 2012 by the Parliament of Malaysia. He is also directly and indirectly involved in establishing numerous national and international initiatives and interventions in Road Safety, amongst them are rear seatbelt law, national implementation framework of UN WP29 Regulations, enforcing various UN Regulations on Road Vehicles, airbag fitment, ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP), International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) for Malaysia, Guideline for Road Safety Audit, Code of Practices for Transport Sector under OSHA Malaysia, ISO39001 road traffic safety management systems and the competence requirements for auditing and certification in ISO17021-7, Pilot implementation of ISO39001 in Malaysia, use of electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles, in-depth crash and accident database, Automated Enforcement System, Mandatory of Electronic Stability Control System, Revision of Drive Under Influence, Malaysian Accident Emergency Call Systems Initiative, Endorsement of 2015 ASEAN Declaration on Road Safety Strategy by ASEAN Transport Ministers, road safety recommendations to the Government of Myanmar with in-Country Expert Mission to Myanmar, and many others.
Mr. Michihiro Toki
is a seasoned mobility and road safety expert with over 25 years at the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). He currently serves as Manager of the Project Development Division in JAF’s Traffic Environment Department, leading national road safety campaigns and sustainable mobility initiatives.
Mr. Toki began his career in 1998 as a roadside assistance patrol officer, gaining hands-on experience with the diverse challenges faced by drivers in Japan. He transitioned to membership promotion in 2006, working with automotive dealers to expand JAF’s member base.
In 2018, he assumed a leadership role at the branch level, overseeing road safety, motorsports, and public relations. As a JAF Certified Safety Advisor, he delivered safety lectures, managed motorsport activities, and led public outreach. Promoted in 2021 to Section Manager, he expanded his role to include Safety Advisor training, PR strategy, and membership benefit development.
Appointed to his current position in 2024, Mr. Toki now directs the training of Safety Advisors nationwide and develops interactive programs for diverse audiences, including international drivers. He collaborates with government and industry partners to tackle traffic safety issues.
Beyond JAF, Mr. Toki serves on national bodies including the Sub Study Group for Advanced Safety Vehicles (MLIT), the Cabinet Office’s Traffic Safety Forum, and as Vice-Chairman of the Training Commission at the Japan Automobile Education Foundation.
Mr. Toki is recognised for his dedication to public safety, his strategic leadership in mobility initiatives, and his deep commitment to enhancing the driving culture in Japan.
Mr. Tay Chay Sim
Mr Tay Chay Sim Senior Technical Consultant and Trainer AAS Academy Mr Tay Chay Sim is the Senior Technical Consultant and Trainer for AAS Academy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Automobile Association of Singapore where he conducts and leads the training team in delivering safe driver courses to all classes of drivers, including private and commercial drivers.
He has been professionally awarded international accreditations from International Road Transport Union (IRU) Academy, The Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), DriveTech UK and Institute of Adult Learning, Singapore. He is a certified MORRTM (Managing Occupational Road Risk) auditor by RoSPA.
Chay Sim is an advocate for continuous learning on safe driving. With over 20 years of experience in the automobile industry, Chay Sim is also known for his strong technical expertise and contributes his knowledge to print and media publications. He is effectively bilingual and has made appearances on TV shows and guest panel speaker to events and seminars. Prior to joining AA Singapore, Chay Sim worked with the SMRT Corporation and PSA Singapore on mechanical and electrical services as well as vehicle maintenance and repairs services. er AAS Academy