Learning signs you need to have your car battery replaced is a wise choice to prevent you from the risk of experiencing a dead car battery and bad-condition car performance.
The following article will provide detailed information to deeply understand the major signs of a bad battery and fix it on time for excellent driving time. Let’s get started!
Is It Important To Replace Your Car Battery Periodically?
No matter how hard you try to maintain a healthy battery by taking good care of it regularly, the battery has a limited life expectancy.
When it shows weak car battery symptoms, it is advisable to replace it on time to avoid having a completely dead car battery.
The problem of a car battery won’t hold a charge can lead to other severe mechanical issues in your car.
That’s why you should pay attention to common warning signs that forecast the replacement of the battery.
By replacing the battery on a three-year basis, you can prolong the lifespan of your car and enjoy wonderful drives with it.
What Are Signs You Need To Have Your Car Battery Replaced?
There are many signs for you to know when to replace the car battery.
They can be the issues from the battery itself like weird smells and corrosion or other components of the car like a delay in engine starting, weak lighting, battery warning light, and poor performance.
1. Slow Starting Engine
When you notice the engine takes more time to start than before, it can be a major warning sign for a dead battery.
It is an understandable electrical issue after periods of time using the car battery since electronic components inside the car are getting worse.
A faulty battery will not deliver enough battery power for the car to start the engine immediately.
You will have to wait for an extra few seconds for the battery charge to reach the starter for turning over the engine.
Experiencing the ticking sound or the light flickering is also a part of battery issues when you turn the key.
However, there are some minor cases when the problem comes from the starter itself, not because of a dead car battery.
It is advisable to ask for help from auto repair experts at an auto service shop for the exact diagnosis of your car.
2. Lighting Issues
The lighting system of your car can signal that the battery is malfunctioning, affecting the battery health in the long run.
When there are changes in the dim headlights or the dashboard warning light, you will easily notice and go for a battery check to solve the problem on time.
Sometimes, the battery light is still on even when the alternator is charging. It’s a high chance that your car is calling for a new battery.
Degrading battery capacity often happens when headlights are dimmer than normal or don’t even turn on.
In contrast, the situation of the check engine light suddenly illuminating suggests the possibility of a dead car battery.
If there are both above-mentioned symptoms with the lighting system, you had better go to the auto repair shop for a battery replacement as soon as possible.
3. Poor Performance
A dead car battery will lead to many electrical problems that affect the performance of your car. A bad alternator is one of the major warning signs to point out the shorter battery life of your car.
When there is an alternator issue, the car will have trouble holding a charge, and the battery will stop working.
Other problems with electrical components include the radio, air-conditioner, or windows can also hint at bad car battery performance.
Whenever you notice a negative change in the quality of any mechanical part, check the battery to see if the battery life is coming to an end and needs to be replaced for a better driving time.
4. Strange Odor
Battery acid leaking is a common sign of your dead car battery. When the battery loses its function, it will produce hydrogen sulfide gas and create an irritating smell like rotten eggs.
When you notice the sign of the leaking fluid, you can easily mistake battery acid for distilled water.
That’s when the strange odor will help you distinguish between the two fluids, allowing you to devise a suitable plan for better car performance.
5. Corrosion Problems
The buildup of corrosion on battery terminals, both positive and negative terminals, can be seen as a blue or green powder.
How to charge a car battery if there is a corrosion issue? The excessive corrosion will make it difficult for the battery to reach the alternator, preventing it from holding a charge.
That’s why it is highly recommended to deal with the corrosion at once for car battery performance in the long run.
A regular battery check is a good idea to notice signs of corrosion and solve the problem immediately to avoid a bad battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Often Should I Change The Car Battery?
The suggested time for replacing a car battery is every three years.
However, you will need to replace it sooner or later than the three-year mark based on your battery type and normal maintenance conditions.
It would be best to have a regular basis check of the battery to prolong the car battery lifespan.
Whenever you spot signs of a dead battery or changes in the function of other equipment, go for a battery replacement to maintain a healthy battery.
2. Where Should I Get My Car Battery Replaced?
Having your weak battery checked and replaced by a professional mechanic will ensure the quality of the battery. Going to an auto shop will be wiser than replacing the battery at home.
You had better get your car battery replaced at the garage brand, where you purchase the car in the first place for the most suitable component with your car.
3. How To Clean Corroded Battery Cables?
When it comes to the problem of corrosion, it would be best to apply the baking soda solution to clean the battery cable connectors. It is an effective way for anyone to carry it out at home.
For the preparation part, you will need baking soda, warm water, a toothbrush, and a soft cloth.
A suitable mixing proportion of a spoonful of baking soda with a cup of water is crucial for the success of the battery cleaning solution.
After removing the battery cable and cleaning it, you need to use the toothbrush to scrub the cleaning solution on the battery terminals’ surface.
Clean battery cables are ready to serve once you finish the last step of rinsing the terminal with water and wiping it with a towel.
Conclusion
Until these bottom lines, we hope you will confidently know all the signs you need to have your car battery replaced.
The useful knowledge will help you know the exact time to replace the car battery for your enjoyable driving experience.
Should there be no indicators, it’s best to switch to a new one after 3 years of use.