5 Signs Your Car Battery Needs to be Replaced
Posted on January 15, 2021
Most of the time, the majority of us will take our car starting as soon as we turn the key or press the button for granted. That's fair enough as today's vehicles are extremely reliable on the whole, and most of us think of a breakdown being something that happens as we're driving along and something fails so we have to pull over. There are many, many vital systems that have to keep working to keep your car running as it should, but the battery is among the most vital. It doesn't matter if your oil is fresh, your filters are clean, your timing is spot-on, your tires are properly inflated and your fluids are at the right levels; if you have car battery problems and your battery dies, so does everything else. So, here are five signs to look for to identify if your battery needs replacing before it's too late.
Look out for the lights
Lights of all types on your vehicle can give tell-tales signs it might be time for a replace car battery. Your headlights need plenty of power from the battery to work properly, so if they're dimming or flickering you might want to visit a car battery replacement service pretty soon. Lights on your dashboard could alert you to too, such as the engine light coming on randomly or other warning lights you don't normally see coming on. Knowing what the various lights mean is part of regular car maintenance and proper car care, so make sure you know what they mean.
Slow engine crank
One of the most obvious signs most people will recognise as an indication of battery problems is your engine taking an unusually long time to start. If the starter motor is struggling to crank your engine over, a drained or failing battery is likely to be the cause. If the car is really struggling to start and the sound is becoming increasingly laboured, it's almost certain the battery is the culprit.
Low battery fluid
Batteries have battery fluid inside them, and fluids can leak. If the fluid goes below the required level the battery's ability to charge will diminish. Leaks usually appear on top of the battery around the terminals, but leaks can also occur through a cracked case. Most batteries have a translucent section so you can check the level. If you do have a leak, be careful as battery fluid is pretty horrible stuff.
Blown-up casing
You might be familiar with mobile phones failing when the battery appears bloated and out of shape. Although it's possibly harder to notice with a car battery, the case can expand over time and that means the battery is deteriorating and basically on the way out.
Old age
Like the rest of us, batteries get weaker and don't work as well as they used to as they start to get on in age. Although most batteries will last way beyond three years, it's a good idea to make a note to get yours tested every year after it reaches three years old, just to be on the safe side.
For more information on car batteries or to get yours checked out by professionals, don't hesitate to get in touch with us here at CarHub.