Age is a sign that your car battery is going bad, so pop the hood and look at the numbers on the battery. The first number is the month and the second number is the year that your battery was manufactured. If your battery is older than three years old, it is going bad. This is just one sign that your car needs a new battery. Here are other signs.
Problems Starting the Car
It can be difficult to get the car started if the battery is going bad. Instead of cranking just once and firing up your car will crank several times before it fires up. If the battery is dead, the car will not fire up at all. If you have been left with the need to jump-start your vehicle frequently, this is a sign that the battery is no longer able to hold a charge. In other words, it’s time to remove the old battery and replace it with a new one.
Slow or Malfunctioning Accessories
You may also notice that your vehicle’s accessories have slowed down. This is a sign they are not getting enough power from the battery. As an aside, it can also be a sign that they are not getting enough power from the alternator. Either way, the accessories will malfunction and work differently than they normally do. One example of this is the headlights shining dimmer than they normally shine.
Corroded Connectors and Terminals
If, when you pop the hood to check your battery’s age you notice that the terminals are corroded, your battery could be leaking battery acid. This is also a sign that the battery is too old. Unfortunately, the acid collects around the terminals and the battery cable connectors and causes corrosion that looks white and fluffy or blue and fluffy. You can clean this corrosion off the terminals and connectors, but it will come back if the battery is leaking. You may also smell rotten eggs around the battery if the battery is leaking the sulfuric acid that is found inside of it.
Battery Case Cracking/Bubbling
Finally, your battery case can also look strange if the battery needs to be replaced. It may crack or bubble or warp if there is an issue with the chemical reaction inside of the battery. The chemical reaction can go wrong when the battery is too old.
Call us today to set up a service appointment for your automobile so we can replace the battery.
