Winter isn't the only season that can be hard on your car battery.

That's right. Summer is also a difficult time for your car battery. Here's why.

Excessive heat can cause the battery fluid to evaporate. This will lead to battery failure. Excessive heat can also reduce battery life at a greater rate than extreme cold weather.
Overcharging is as bad for your battery as undercharging. Overcharging can occur when the charging system malfunctions.
Batteries have two main ratings: Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and Reserve Capacity (RC). When replacing your battery make sure you buy a battery with at least the same CCA and RC ratings as the original battery. The ratings can be found in your owners manual and/or on the side of the battery.

How to care for your car battery.

Keep your engine well maintained. A well-tuned engine is easier to start and drains less power from the battery.
If you're concerned about the 'health' of your battery have a battery load test performed. This will help to determine if you need to get a new battery. It's better to find out before it's too late.
Make sure the battery terminals are clean. Excessive dirt and corrosion will reduce the effectiveness of the battery.
To clean dirt or corrosion on or around the battery, use an old toothbrush or bristle brush. Dip the brush in a solution of baking soda and water. Always remember to wear safety goggles and gloves.
Check the water level every couple of months. It should be just touching the bottom of the refill hole. Refill the battery, when needed, with distilled water. Don't use tap water, which produces corrosion on the terminals.

How to boost a car battery.

Although boosting a car battery is a relatively easy task, if not done properly it can lead to serious injury. Follow these steps to ensure your safety.

Connect the positive (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the good battery.
Connect the other positive (+) clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
Connect the negative (-) clamp to the negative terminal on the good battery.
Connect the other negative clamp to the frame or other grounded metal component (such as the engine block) on the vehicle with the dead battery. Try to use a grounded metal component as far away from the battery as possible. Do not connect this final clamp to the negative terminal of the dead battery.
Do not start the vehicle for at least a minute or so.
If the car doesn't start leave the cables on for another couple of minutes. Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds.
Once the vehicle has started remove the clamps in the reverse order.
Never let any of the clamps touch each other. This can cause sparks.
Always wear protective goggles when working around a car battery. A car battery contains a mixture of gases and acids that could leave you seriously injured if the battery exploded.