Do you leave your phone charger plugged into your car? Bad idea...

Is your car battery fully charged?

Eric Peters, author of “Automotive Atrocities!” says most people don’t pay attention to their car battery until it dies – and that’s a big mistake. He says keeping the battery at full charge extends its life. Repeated charging and discharging will weaken its ability to hold a charge over time.

To avoid depleting your battery – don’t use the radio, headlights, interior lights or any other accessories when the engine is off. Leaving that phone or GPS charger plugged in is a constant draw on your battery. Even if you don’t use your car – there is a gradual draw of current from your battery. If you own a vehicle that just sits there – make sure to start it once a week or buy an automatic “trickle charger.” They cost about $40 – a lot less than the price of a new battery.