Your vehicle is rendered inoperable without a battery. However, despite the fact that the car battery is the lifeblood of the car, many individuals are unaware of when it is time to replace it.
Your automobile battery is regularly charged by reusing energy while driving. When your vehicle battery fails unexpectedly, it is among the most annoying things while driving. Also, this might cause you to be late for work or miss an important appointment. Hence, monitoring your automobile battery must be part of regular vehicle maintenance. Nevertheless, issues might arise between service sessions due to everyday living and wear and tear. If any of these issues occur, talk with a service technician at Nerang Mechanical shop.
Furthermore, there are various methods to tell whether your vehicle battery is about to die and requires replacement. This guide will go over seven signs that your vehicle battery is likely to expire and should be changed.
- Old Age
In ideal circumstances, an automobile battery has a lifespan of around three years. If your battery is five to six years old, it’s best to start shopping for a new one or recondition it to give it new life. Furthermore, even if nothing seems to be wrong with your battery, it may be in danger of dying. Inspect it with a technician or dealership, or keep an eye out for other indications that the battery is on its final days.
- Sluggish Cranking
If your vehicle turns over for a longer period of time than usual or takes a long time to “catch,” it is likely that the battery charge is low. While the starting might be at fault, the battery is usually blamed. If this happens on a frequent basis, it’s a warning that your vehicle battery is failing and it’s necessary to repair or recondition it.
- Swelling Battery Case
If your battery casing seems swollen, bloated, or deformed beneath the hood, it is an indication that temperature has altered the different compounds of the battery. Moreover, excessive heat is frequently the cause of a bloated battery casing. This might reduce the lifespan of your battery.
- Sulfuric Smell
When a vehicle battery freezes or becomes overcharged, it frequently produces sulfuric acid. If you smell rotten eggs beneath the hood of your automobile, replace your batteries right away. Sulfuric acid may eat away at other elements of the engine, causing severe issues with your car.
If you discover this, you may take your battery to a technician’s shop and get it checked, or you can follow the preventative maintenance instructions and do it yourself.
- Requires Multiple Jumps Starts
If you have to jump your battery over three times a week to get your vehicle started, it’s better to repair or recondition it. Frequent jumping may also harm other systems; therefore, it’s recommended to replace the battery or repair it yourself.
- Check Engine/Battery Warning Light
The check engine light is always an indicator that something is wrong with your car. The check engine light will illuminate if the battery power is insufficient. Therefore, inspect the battery power level if your check engine light is on. Additionally, like the check engine light, modern automobiles include a battery light. This will only light up if there is a problem with the battery.
- Corrosion or Leaking
An aged automobile battery may have some chemical accumulation. Corrosion may be eliminated using a baking soda and water solution. It should be handled with caution, either by using gloves and goggles or by your technician or dealership.
Are Bad Battery Connections Causing my Car Not to Start?
If one of the battery connections becomes loose or damaged, it might result in a no-start, check engine light, slowing, and loss of electric power steering assistance. Many dealers and respectable repair companies visually examine the battery terminals during routine oil changes. If the battery terminals are damaged, your service technician may advise you to get them replaced.
Furthermore, the battery terminal service ranges from $25 to $50. Cleansing the battery connections and terminals, as well as adding a protective spray or oil, are all part of the process.
When Should you Replace Your Vehicle Battery?
If you usually drive in perfect circumstances with mild temperatures and low humidity, your battery may survive for five or six years. However, around three years, you must be searching for indications of aging. Also, you have to discover the issue as soon as possible before it causes harm to your engine.
How often should you change your automobile battery? That’s a fair estimate of three to five years. However, the best solution is when you see signs that the battery charge is deteriorating.
Remember, it’s not a question of if but of when. Your automobile battery will ultimately need to be changed. In fact, if you reside in a warmer region and take care of your automobile, your battery may last five or even six years. However, they are just estimations. After your battery’s third birthday, the best way is to keep an eye out for any of the signs mentioned above.
Conclusion
Your car battery can last longer if you do routine maintenance on it. If you see any of these seven warning signals in your vehicle battery, it’s time to have it checked before it completely stops working and leaves you stranded. Thus, consider this guide if you want to learn more about extending the life of your vehicle battery even more.