A few years ago as winter approached you would have got ready to tune up your vehicle, which meant check and, if necessary, change plugs, points and clean the carburettor. You would have also gone in for winter oil.

Happily, none of these things are really necessary today. The new breed of cars has no carburettor and no C.B. points. They have multi-port fuel injection (MPFI) and electronic ignition, which works to such perfection that the plugs have a very long life. And oils are multi-grade, which means they are good for summer as well as winter. Life has become so much simpler.

However, one thing cannot be ignored — the battery. As the sun is the source of energy for all living beings in the universe, the battery is for all things automotive. Without a fully charged battery, the computer may not function, which means that nothing will work and the car won’t start.

The minimum charge required for the on-board computer to function is 11 volts. It is recommended that you do not push-start the car. If the car starts before the computer functions, you may or may not damage the computer, but will definitely damage the catalytic converter.

It is also not recommended to use jumper cables to start the car. There could be the possibility of a spark and that one spark could damage your car computer.

The only way to start the car which is electronically controlled is with a fully-charged battery. If your car doesn’t start, remove the battery. Fit a fully-charged battery and start it. Make sure the terminals are properly tightened. Don’t just slip them over the pole and leave them loose. Remember you don’t need even the slightest spark.

Incidentally, to push-start a car with automatic drive is not the easiest procedure. You will need to get a speed of 40-50 km. ph before you will be able to start the engine. It is so much easier to keep the battery, the starter, alternator and fan belt in proper working order.

The following hints will promise you an instant start and save you embarrassing moments plus inconvenience.

The first thing regarding you battery is that it must be secured firmly in place. Sometimes overflowing electrolyte will corrode the steel plate the battery rests on, and the clamps will not hold the battery firmly in place. The battery is sure to shake itself loose and this could be the beginning of a lot of problems for you. A loosely held battery will bounce, shake and vibrate and damage the container and plates. It could rip out wires or even corrode them.

Keep the battery clean at all times, especially the terminals. Dirty or loose terminals will cause sparking and shorting — you don’t need that. It could short-circuit the alternator and on-board computer and to get that repaired or replaced could cost you a lot of money. Dirty terminals may simply not allow the current to flow.

The poles on the battery must be treated with care. It is a common sight to see the electrician hammer the clamp onto the pole. This is a wrong procedure. The clamps should be loosened, opened, then fitted over the battery pole and tightened. Only with this procedure will you get a proper fit. And while the pole is exposed, apply a thin layer of vaseline or petroleum jelly over the pole and then fit the clamp. Do not use grease, only vaseline. Again, it is commonplace to see the electrician’s jamura apply a blob of grease on to the clamp. Again this is an absolutely wrong procedure. The vaseline must be applied between the pole and the clamp and not on the outside. On the outside it serves no purpose.

Check the battery regularly. Top it up with only distilled water. It promises longer battery life. Maintain the electrolyte level as recommended. It’s easy to do with the see-through batteries you get these days.

Don’t lean over a battery, with cigarette in mouth when the battery plugs are open! It can be extremely dangerous.

Make sure the battery plugs fit properly. There should be no spillage. Don’t plug them with a plastic shopping bag or cloth. The plastic can fly off and cause damage; the cloth will corrode and fall into the battery, damaging it.

When having the battery checked, check the fan belt tension. Examine the engine too and look out for leaks, spills, frayed wires and loose connections.

Happy motoring!