Hassle-free tips from Motolite’s Res-Q App
With all the electronics connected to our cars these days, a dead battery happens more frequently than you think.
The following scenario may even be all too familiar. Imagine you just found out that your battery is dead or you have a flat tire while your car is at the office parking lot or your garage. You cannot tend to it because either you’re busy or it’s late in the evening already.
Just an app away
There’s no need to worry as the solution is just an app away: the Motolite Res-Q App.
If your phone doesn’t have it yet, you can easily download the Res-Q App via the iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery. Just tap the Res-Q App on your smartphone and choose the service you need at the bottom of the screen. After that, input your location and you will be directed to a page that gives you the option to either “Book Now” or “Schedule Order”.
If you choose “Book Now”, a customer service specialist from Motolite ExpressHatid will contact you to confirm your order. You can then specify to the Motolite ExpressHatid staff the time that you want the technician to service you.
If you tap the “Schedule Order”, on the other hand, you’ll be sent to the page where you can choose your preferred time and date over the next three days.
Service evolution
The Res-Q APP is part of Motolite’s continuing service evolution in the digital age. It is recognized as the first app to offer multiple services to motorists off and on the road, including assistance for a dead battery, flat tire, overheating, and empty fuel. Just download the app, register your vehicle and input the details being prompted by the app so when you are in an emergency, Motolite will automatically know what you need and where you are because of its GPS feature. It can service you promptly.
Launched in 2018, the Motolite Res-Q has been downloaded 135,000 times. Initially available in Metro Manila, the coverage of Motolite Res-Q would have been expanded already had plans not been delayed by the pandemic.
Motolite Res-Q users are assured that the technicians that will be dispatched to them are skilled in the areas of battery servicing, flat tires, overheating, and refueling. The technicians’ services are free of charge if your vehicle has a Motolite battery installed. Non-Motolite battery users will be charged a minimal fee.
Tips to avoid the drain
To take proper care of your car — especially its battery — Motolite offers some practical and effective tips that can spare you and your vehicle from potential problems.
- Ensure that all doors are completely closed (including the trunk) when you park your car. When a door is left open, the dome or inside light of the car stays on. This can discharge the battery if left for a long period. Some cars have a glove compartment light that turns on when opened. Ensure that this is also properly closed.
- Leaving your headlights on and other electrical devices after shutting off the engine will discharge your battery. Do not leave your headlights, park lights, and hazard warning lights on. Check these before you turn off the engine and leave the car. Remember that these lights will remain turned on, even when you turn off the engine.
- Dashcams with parking mode and parking surveillance options will continue to operate even if the car is not being used. Dashcams in park mode are directly powered by the car battery and will drain the battery power over time if the car will not be used for a long period of time. If you will not be driving or using your car for a few days, you could unplug your dashcams to prevent battery discharge. Of course, if you’re concerned about security, by all means leave it on. Just be warned that dashcams will discharge the car battery overtime when the car is left unused for a long period.
- You can prevent the battery from discharging when not in use by disconnecting the negative cable or terminal. This can certainly help but remember that the computer box (fitted in most new cars) will also lose power and may reset.
- Clean your battery terminals and check if the battery clamp is loose or improperly seated. Corroded battery terminals and loose clamps prevent fully charging of the battery by the alternator. You may already have a partially discharged battery in the first place when you park your car, so discharging may be faster if left unused.
- When cleaning the battery terminals to get rid of corrosion, prepare a mixture of 8-oz warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda in a small container. Using a soft brush, clean the battery cable and terminals.
- When the car is not going to be used for a few days or a long period, start the engine at least once every two weeks. Drive it for about 5 to 10 kilometers to fully charge the battery. If this is not possible, start the engine while parked. Do not turn on any loads (lights, car stereo, or A/C ) for faster recharging. Once the engine has started, press the gas pedal up to 2,000 RPM. Alternators will start charging the battery at 2,000 RPM. Keeping the engine just on idle (800 to 1000 RPM) will not fully charge the battery. Maintain 2,000 RPM for five minutes and leave the engine idle for another 10 minutes. Do this every two weeks.
- Finally, the rate of discharge of a car battery due to parasitic loads (alarms, on-board computer box, radio/ stereo memories) depends on the age of the battery. Normal parasitic load can discharge an old battery faster than a new one. If you think your battery is already old, maybe it’s time to replace it.