In every vehicle, batteries are what power up the engine to start the car. Over time, as batteries are used and abused with continual charging and discharging, the battery life will slowly degrade. If you don’t keep an eye on your battery’s health, you could be left stranded on the side of the road with a dead car battery.
There are several indications that you need a new car battery and it is important to be aware of them.
From dashboard lights to headlights dimming, here are six signs that indicate you need a new battery.
1. Your Car is Not Starting
One of the most noticeable and obvious signs you need a new car battery is when your car won’t start. As soon as you turn the key in the ignition, you should hear your engine humming to life.
If you only hear a clicking noise or even silence, that is a sign that your battery is too weak to start your car.
Before buying a new battery, it is important to check the connections to ensure that the problem isn’t just loose cables.
You can find your car battery in the engine bay. Next, identify the terminal posts and check to see if the cables are attached securely.
If you see corrosion in the posts, you can try to clean it off with a wire brush or a solution of water and baking soda.
After doing these things, you can try to jump-start your car by using jumper cables to connect your battery to another working battery. If this doesn’t work, then it’s time for a new battery.
2. Slow Starting
A car’s battery has enough energy to fire up different things in the car once it starts. If you notice that your car is taking longer than normal to start up, this could be a sign that your battery is losing power.
That means it doesn’t have the necessary voltage to give the starter motor the power it needs to turn on the engine.
For modern car parts like fuel pumps, ignition systems, and other computer-controlled accessories, it usually requires more power to turn on.
If any of these things are slow to turn on, one way to fix this is to recharge the battery with the alternator. This can be a temporary fix, however, because this indicates that the battery is weakening and will eventually need to be replaced.
3. Electrical Equipment Acting Up
As the battery is the main source of power for your car, if it starts to die, then different electrical accessories in the car will also be affected. For example, the power windows may move slower than usual or the radio may start to cut out.
Flickering dashboard lights can also be a sign, as well as the check engine light coming on. All of these things are signs that there isn’t enough voltage to power up the accessories.
4. Visible Corrosion
Many people may think that corrosion only exists in car parts where there is water contact, such as on the brake rotors. However, corrosion can also build up on the battery terminals or where the battery connects to power cables.
If you notice an excessive build-up of corrosion that is a sign that the battery is leaking acid and losing charging capacity.
The corrosion can also cause the power cables to disconnect which will result in the car not starting. Corrosion is mainly caused by sulfuric acid that is inside the battery. When the battery is charging, the sulfuric acid reacts with the lead plates to create electricity.
Hydrogen gas leak can also be one of the suspects in battery corrosion as the gas reacts heavily to the metal that is found in the battery connections and creates copper sulfate that is corrosive.
5. Physical Damage
Accidents like collisions or running into something can cause physical damage to your car battery.
Even if the accident didn’t seem that severe, it can still jar the battery loose and cause internal damage. This is especially true for cars where batteries are found under the hood.
Although batteries are placed where they are protected from the elements, they are still susceptible to being damaged. Vibrations from daily driving can also cause physical damage to the car’s battery as well as extreme weather and temperatures.
When you are driving, components inside the battery can rattle around and come in contact with each other, which may cause a short circuit.
Freezing temperatures can also lead the battery case to crack and allow battery acid to leak out. If you notice any damage outside the case of the battery then this is one of the signs you need a new battery for your car. The leaking of dangerous sulfuric acid can be corrosive and cause harm to you.
6. Old Battery
Age is definitely a thing to consider when it comes to car batteries. A battery usually lasts around three to four years. Aside from the mentioned signs, you need a new battery for your car above, another way to tell if your battery needs replacing is to simply check the date.
Most car batteries will have a date printed on them. You can identify the sticker as it is usually rectangular with round circles featuring the month and year.
Final Thoughts
Batteries are important as they are what gives your car the power to start up and drive. With different parts of your car, it can be hard to tell when you need a new battery. However, if you experience any of the problems mentioned above, then it is time for a new one.
Make sure to choose the right battery for your car as there are different types, sizes, and terminal locations. Also, don’t forget to properly dispose of your old battery as it contains harmful chemicals that can be damaging to the environment.