Ways to Tell That You Need a New Car Battery
Total Auto Care can replace your car’s battery when it needs it. If you are driving an automobile that has a battery that is three years old or older, you are going to need a new battery soon. Hopefully, your battery will not die outright. Rather, the battery will give you one or more of the warnings listed below that it is dying and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Battery Warning Light
As you know, your vehicle’s dashboard is equipped with numerous warning lights. One such light is a battery-shaped light. If this light turns on, the main computer chip is trying to tell you that there is a problem with the battery. In most cases, the battery is too old and needs to be replaced.
Slow/Difficult Starts
You may also start to have problems getting your vehicle started if the battery is dying. The engine may crank slowly and several times before it catches and fires up. It’s a good idea to have the battery tested after the first time this happens. There’s no point in getting stranded with a dead battery.
Accessory/Light Problems
The battery helps the alternator supply your vehicle with the electricity it needs. For example, your power accessories need electricity and the vehicle’s lights need electricity. If you are having problems with the accessories or lights, the battery may no longer be able to produce enough power for them.
Corrosion on the Terminals
If your battery is over three years old, we recommend that you pop the hood when the engine is cold and take a good look at it. Check to make sure that you can’t see any corrosion on the battery terminals or the cable connectors. If you do see corrosion, this is a sign that the battery is leaking battery acid.
Sulfuric Acid Odors
Another sign that the battery is leaking battery acid is sulfuric acid odors around the battery. The best way to describe how sulfuric acid smells is to think of rotten eggs. If you smell rotten eggs in your engine around the battery, your battery is leaking and it needs to be replaced right away.
Bubbling Battery Case
Older batteries can also suffer from chemical reaction problems. When this happens, the battery case may start to bubble or warp. You’ll want to replace the battery case if it has lost its shape or is cracked.Total Auto Care in North Branch, MN, would be happy to help, so give us a call today to set up a battery service for your vehicle.