battery is made of a plastic case, containing an arrangement of positive and negative lead plates separated by synthetic plate separators. The plates are connected to a set of terminals, which provide connection to the vehicle. The battery is filled with electrolyte, a mixture of sulfuric acid and water.

The electrolyte and lead plates provide the chemical action necessary to store and release energy. Your vehicle's battery and its connections should be checked at every oil change. It should be mounted securely, as vibration takes a toll on battery life. On batteries with removable filler caps, the electrolyte should be checked and topped off with distilled water. Battery connections should be clean, tight and corrosion-free. If you are going on vacation for more than two weeks and you are leaving the car parked without use, disconnect the battery from the car by removing the negative terminal cable. This will reduce the discharge.