Signs Your Car Battery Is Going Bad & When It’s Time to Replace it
Ever go to start your car, truck, or electric vehicle (EV) and you’re greeted with a dull click? Or nothing at all with an EV? These are classic signs you have a dead battery. Thankfully, understanding how your battery works and noticing the tell-tale signs of a dying battery can save you a lot of time and frustration. It can also help you avoid being stranded and forced to jump-start your car. Here’s how to tell when your battery is going bad and when you need to replace it.
Please Notice! Batteries can be dangerous. They contain sulfuric acid and can cause injury. We recommend wearing appropriate safety equipment before working on your car battery. This includes protective glasses and gloves. Additionally, avoid wearing baggy clothing or metallic jewelry while inspecting or cleaning your battery.
How To Tell If Your Car Battery Is Dead: Bad Car Battery Symptoms
It doesn’t take a lot of power to start today’s gas-powered vehicles or initiate the startup sequence in an EV. That can make it difficult to notice a weak or dying car battery. We have some tips to help.
Battery Light on the Dash
A lit battery dashboard indicator is one of the first signs that a car battery is going bad. If the battery light on your dash is illuminated, it could be a loose cable, alternator issue, bad wiring, or a dying battery. Regardless, get to a Les Schwab store near you for a free inspection and advice.
Slow Starter
If your gas-powered vehicle takes a few cranks to start, it can be a common sign of a weak car battery.
Fluid Leaks
The fluid in your battery is corrosive and dangerous. If there is a leak, bring your car in for an inspection.
Swollen Battery
Battery swelling is one of the clear signs of a dead or dying car battery. Too much heat can cause a battery to swell. A swollen battery can be dangerous to change and may require professional removal and installation.
Corrosion on the Posts
While it may just need a good cleaning or the terminals may need to be tightened, anytime you spot corrosion on your battery, stop by Les Schwab. We’ll take a look and share our advice.
Too Many Jump-Starts
If you jump-start your vehicle more than once a month, it could be time to check your battery and other components, including the alternator.
Old Battery
While age can affect a battery, the hot, summer months and other weather in your region can cause a lot of battery wear and tear. This is due to an increase in the chemical reactions inside the battery during hot days. If you’ve had the same battery for three or more years, get to Les Schwab for a free visual inspection and/or battery test.
Les Schwab Tip: Because the signs of a weak battery might not be as noticeable and batteries rarely die at a convenient time, the professionals at your local Les Schwab can check your battery condition for free.
How Often Do Car Batteries Need To Be Replaced?
If you’re wondering how often you should change your car battery, or why your battery died suddenly without warning, the answer might not be what you’re expecting.
Batteries are an essential part of today’s vehicles. Even EV cars and trucks have a regular 12-volt battery to initiate the startup sequence before the large battery is engaged. According to AAA, the average 12-volt battery can last three years. With the right one and today’s automotive advances, it’s possible to get even more years out of your next battery. However, where you live, including elevation, weather, and where you drive can play a big role in the life of that battery.
Leave Battery Installation to the Pros
At one time, removing your vehicle’s old, dead battery and installing a new one was an easy bit of car maintenance. Today’s vehicles are more complex. And, so are today’s automotive batteries.
Most of today’s cars and trucks are packed with computers and other special electronic equipment that rely on a continuous power supply. Incorrectly changing out a battery can affect your infotainment presets and usability, security system, power windows, as well as your air conditioning and heating controls. More importantly, a loss of power during battery installation can also cause unseen issues to your vehicle’s operating systems. Because today’s automotive computers adapt while you drive, a loss of power can negatively affect systems that regulate your transmission, engine efficiency, and battery charging.
How Weather and Climate Conditions Impact Your Battery Lifespan
Weather, as well as where you live and drive, can affect the life expectancy of your car’s battery. If you experience hot summers and frigid winters, your battery will have to work extra hard. While it’s common to experience a dead battery in the winter, it’s actually the hot, summer months that cause most battery wear and tear. This is due to an increase in the chemical reactions inside the battery during hot days. When the weather gets cold, that damage is more likely to cause battery failure.
Cold Weather Shows How Dead Your Battery Really Is
Most of us notice a dead or dying battery in the winter. That’s because, after a hot summer and plenty of starts, that battery may be exhausted. The cold weather can become too much for the struggling power cells, ending with a drained or dead battery. Additionally, thicker engine oil due to the colder weather can force your battery to work extra hard to start a gas-powered vehicle.
Hot Weather Takes a Toll on Car Battery Life
High temperatures accelerate signs that your car battery is dying by increasing internal chemical reactions that degrade battery components. Because there is water in your battery, triple-digit temperatures can cause that water to slightly evaporate. This can lead to damage and loss of power.
Tips for Extending Your Battery Life
New car batteries are tough and built to start your vehicle thousands of times without fail. But hot and cold weather can damage even the best battery. Here are some tips to help extend your car battery life.
Don’t Leave Your Headlights On
Even if your lights go off automatically, turn them off completely. This will save a little bit of your battery life. Additionally, turn off glove-box lights, trunk lights, and interior lights that remain illuminated when the vehicle is off.
Unplug Extra Accessories
Stereo components (such as subwoofers), and phone chargers that continue to work when the car is turned off can drain your battery. This is especially important in extreme heat and cold.
Take a Drive Once a Week
During extremely cold weather, take your car on a 15-minute drive once a week. This can help recharge your battery if your alternator is working properly.
Tighten and Clean Battery Connections
Battery terminals that are loose or corroded can drain or damage the battery. This is especially common in extreme heat and cold. If you find corrosion, scrub it off with a stiff-bristle brush (an old toothbrush works great) and a mixture of one part baking soda to three parts water.
Plug In Your EV or Hybrid
If you’re facing extremely hot or cold weather, leave your EV plugged in overnight. This can help keep your 12-volt car battery from draining completely.
Importance of Regular Battery Checks
Regular inspections help identify if a car battery is bad before it’s too late. Just like checking the oil in your engine or air in your tires, have your battery checked often at Les Schwab. Whether it just needs to be recharged or if you need a new battery, we can help, including new batteries for most vehicles.
Start at Les Schwab
If you think you have a drained battery, head over to a Les Schwab near you. Our battery installation professionals use the latest equipment to maintain power to those sensitive systems during the battery installation process. We also use the latest in diagnostics and testing equipment to check the overall health of your battery, charging and starting systems.
Enjoy up to a Seven-Year Battery Warranty
Get a jump on your next battery at your local Les Schwab. We carry automotive batteries for cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, crossovers, RVs, and more. We’ll help you find the best battery for your vehicle and get you quickly back on the road. Our professional installation takes the guesswork and worry out of buying a new battery. Learn more at your nearby Les Schwab Tire Center.