You can expect your car battery to die after three years. You may get an extra year or two out of it, but that will be it. The battery needs to be replaced when it goes bad. One sign that you need a new battery is frequent jump-starts. This is a sign that the battery is no longer able to hold a charge. In other words, your battery is too old. Do not worry. We can replace your battery with a new one quickly.
Battery Warning Light
Another sign that the battery is going bad is a warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard. Specifically, the engine control unit will turn on the battery light and leave it on. The only time you should see this light on is when you first start your automobile. It should turn off relatively quickly after ignition. If it stays on, you’ve got a problem with the battery or alternator.
Difficult Starts
As we mentioned above, if you have to jump-start your vehicle frequently, the battery is going bad. It may also be difficult to get your automobile started but it will eventually start. In this case, the engine will crank several times before it ignites. If this happens, it is a good idea to drive straight to our shop so we can replace the battery so you don’t get stranded with a dead one.
Dim Lights
You may also have problems with your vehicle’s lights and power accessories if the battery is going bad. Specifically, the lights will be dimmer than they normally are and the accessories will slow down or malfunction. This can be frustrating if things start to turn off by themselves such as the radio or the navigation system. The lights may also flicker annoyingly.
Corrosion
Another sign that your battery needs to be replaced is corrosion on the terminals and battery cables. This is an indication that the battery is leaking battery acid and water that is found inside of it. This can happen when the battery gets too old, especially if the battery case cracks.
Case Problems
The battery case can crack if the chemical reaction inside the battery goes bad. This, too, can happen if the battery gets too old. Aside from cracking, the case may also bubble or warp.
Bring your vehicle to our shop right away if the battery case looks strange or if you are having any of the other problems discussed in this blog post. We will remove the old battery and replace it with a new one.
