Symptoms Of A Dying Car Battery
Every car battery has a certain life. Since these batteries are made out of chemicals, they tend to lose their power over time. The power of chemical reactions occurring inside the cell loses its concentration over time. However, this is not the only reason that leads to a car battery failure.
A couple of other factors like age, driving, and weather conditions too play an essential role in signifying the actual cause behind a car battery replacement. Before a car battery dies, there are chances that it might be signaled to the user in one or another way.
These signals serve as an ideal way of detecting a dying car battery and help users address battery-related issues before a car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. With that said, here are all the symptoms that lead a user to replace a car battery:
Age of battery
A car battery usually has a life of 4 to 5 years. This life comprises shelf life and running life. While the shelf life is all about the time a battery spends inside the packaging on manufacturing, the running life is all about the time a car battery spends on the road. A car owner must always keep track of the last car battery installation. This ensures that a car owner has an estimated timeline of when to go for a car battery replacement.
Even the most high-end car batteries have a life of about 6 years. However, past the 4th year; most car batteries start getting weaker. An ideal way to keep checking for car battery replacement is to keep checking signs of weakening and go for battery assessment post the 3-year mark.
Dimming headlights
If a person is looking for obvious visual cues, this is one of the most easily detectable things to look for. A weakening car battery is unable to deliver sufficient power supply to electrical components inside the car. As a result, things like headlights tend to suffer from dimming or flickering in some cases.
If such kind of lighting is spotted, then it leads to nothing but a flat car battery. One must prioritize visiting a repair shop to replace the car battery as soon as possible once such signs are detected.
Pressing pedal
If a person has to push the gas pedal for starting the car, chances are that a car battery may be dying. This is because cars with good batteries usually don’t make users go through the hurdle of pushing the gas pedal over and over again.
Bulging case
Keeping a car unprotected in extreme weather conditions usually causes battery case to change their shapes. Battery shells either inflate or deflate, putting the safety of car users in danger. This is considered one of the most serious signals of car battery replacement.
Inflation or deflation of a car battery shell eventually leads to leaking or cracking of the car battery. It also disturbs the rectangular shape of a car battery, leading a user to discard the battery.
Bad smell
A car may start smelling bad on popping the hood. This foul smell is similar to that of sulfur and rotten eggs. This smell is produced by the leakage of a car battery. Leaking of a car battery usually happens when a battery breaks due to age or a short circuit. Driving cars with leaking batteries is dangerous and should be immediately brought to the notice of repair shops.
Slow turnover
When the car key is turned, the engine should start instantly. A good car battery always kickstarts the engine instantly. If a car engine happens to start slowly, chances are that the car might be facing an alternator, starter, or car battery-related issue.
Clicking Sound
This is one of the most obvious auditory cues of a car battery replacement. A clicking noise is produced on turning the key. This clicking happens as a car battery fails to deliver the necessary electrical charge to the car starter. A failing car battery produces this sound of not being able to sufficient charge to the starter.
This is one of those warning signs that before a car battery refuses to work at all. Once this issue is noticed for the first time, bring it to the attention of the car service provider as soon as possible.
Corroded terminals
Corrosion is one of the leading factors leading to the death of a car battery. Corrosion causes terminals to loosen the grip of their hold, leading to the leak of battery acid from the connectors. Additionally, car batteries also lose their ability to charge from alternators.
Corrosion of terminals is a visual cue, meaning that one will be able to see the corrosion on terminals. Corroded terminals are usually covered with a blue-green powder-covered on them. Cleaning this powder off the terminals with a toothbrush or a rag may help address this issue temporarily. However, going for a car battery replacement stays the safest option.
Dashboard light
Check engine light is one of the easiest ways to check anything wrong with a car. While an issue might not be directly related to a bad car battery; it serves as a clear indicator of something problematic in the car. For example, the car engine may light up even if the issue has arisen from the car battery and is not in the battery itself.
However, failing to address any kind of car issues, in the long run, may ruin other parts of the car too. Chances are that a Car service provider might assess the car battery if a car owner happens to take a with engine light on for servicing.
General electric problems
A car is full of electrical equipment like radio, lights, wipers, power windows, and a dashboard. A weaker car battery is barely capable of starting a car engine and hence is unable to power these types of equipment properly. As a result, one might find any of these types of equipment to malfunction just due to lack of charge.
These are some of the most common symptoms of a dying car battery. As soon as such signs as discovered, the car owner must immediately reach out to an authorized car service provider for a car battery replacement. In this way, a car owner can not only save excessive costs but also keep the car going for years to come.
