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CarMax Offers Car Care Tips for Your Battery

RICHMOND, Va., (February 19, 2008); Replacing a car battery can be a hassle. That's why CarMax, Inc. , the nation's largest retailer of used cars, wants you to know how to keep your car battery in top-notch condition.

"It is important to remember that in today's cars, batteries are still the main power source, used not only to start the engine, but also to supply enough electrical energy to keep the 'memory' of all the onboard computers," said Juan Crespo, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. "Poorly maintained batteries and cable connections won't supply enough voltage to these sophisticated electronic devices which, in turn, can cause erratic vehicle system performance."

CarMax technicians offer a few do's and don'ts to help your car battery maintain its peak performance and to avoid having a low charged battery:

Do's

-Wear proper eye, hand and clothing protection when around batteries

-Check the terminals where cables connect to be sure they are tight and 
corrosion free. If corrosion is present, have terminals cleaned by 
professional.

-Lubricate terminals with a dab of petroleum jelly to keep cables clean and 
free from corrosion longer.

-Make sure the battery is firmly secured to its mounting bracket.  An 
unsecured battery can become damaged and cause short circuits.

-Check the fluid level unless it'a maintenance-free battery. If the fluid 
is low, add distilled water. If there is no fluid visible, then replace 
the battery.

-Keep your battery case clean.  Dirt conducts electricity which can 
discharge the battery. Use a solution of baking soda dissolved in warm 
water to clean. Wet the case and agitate with a nylon bristle brush to 
scrub surface. Rinse well with plain water.

-Batteries come in many different sizes.  When replacing a car battery, 
make sure you choose the right size for your vehicle.  When it comes to 
car batteries, bigger is not always better.

-Always disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last.
Charge battery in a well-ventilated area.

Don'ts

X   If your battery is frozen, do not charge it, as it may explode!  One 
visual sign of a frozen battery is that the sides are bowed out.  This 
condition is not repairable and dangerous; the battery will need to be 
replaced.

X   If you need to charge your battery yourself, switch the charger to a 
low-charge setting.  Most chargers have this feature, but if not, have a 
professional charge the battery.

X   Don't charge a dead battery with a car's alternator.  An alternator is 
not designed to function as a charger, and it may be damaged or have a 
shortened life as a result.

X   Never lean over a battery when charging, testing, or jump-starting the 
engine.

X   Don't disconnect battery cables while engine is running (your battery 
acts as a filter).

X   Don't let the battery get totally discharged.  Most car batteries get 
their power from lead cells submerged in electrolyte and these cells can 
be damaged when the battery is totally discharged.

X   Don't let the battery get hot or the electrolyte boil while charging.
 

About CarMax

CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company, and one of the FORTUNE 2008 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 89 used car superstores in 41 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended February 28, 2007, the company retailed 337,021 used vehicles and sold 208,959 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.