If you’ve owned a car for a very long, you have probably had a day when your car absolutely would not start. You find yourself wondering when the car battery should be replaced. But how can you know that it really is a dead battery causing your starting problem? You may be wondering about the starter or a failing alternator. You keep thinking that if only you would have had your car checked out earlier when you first started to notice starting problems. A dead battery could have been avoided!
So how do you know when car battery should be replaced? There are several warning signs that something is going wrong under the hood:
- Intermittent starting. Your car may start for a couple of days in a row, and then not the next.
- Unusual noises. Clicking sounds when you turn the key in the ignition is a sign the engine isn’t receiving enough power from the battery to start.
- Dimming headlights. The headlights aren’t getting enough power to fully illuminate.
- Electrical accessories don’t work. The electronic accessories, such as the power seats, power windows, navigation, radio, plus anything else you have plugged in, are dependent upon receiving enough power from the battery to function properly.
- Dashboard warning light. Typically in the shape of a battery, this little light is a warning that the battery is dying, either because it is going bad or that the alternator is failing and cannot keep the battery charged.
- Swollen battery case. Constant exposure to extreme temperatures (i.e., freezing and thawing) can cause the outside case of the battery to swell, resulting in the battery going bad.
- Four-years-old. If your car battery has reached the four-year mark, it can become unreliable.
- Loose connections. If the battery connections are loose, the battery can bounce around, losing its charge and appearing to be dying.
- Lights left on. Lights left on overnight or for other extended periods of time without the car running will drain the charge from the battery. A simple jump may be all that is needed to start your car and recharge the battery.
Have more questions about when car battery should be replaced? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.
If you’ve owned a car for a very long, you have probably had a day when your car absolutely would not start. You find yourself wondering when the car battery should be replaced. But how can you know that it really is a dead battery causing your starting problem? You may be wondering about the starter or a failing alternator. You keep thinking that if only you would have had your car checked out earlier when you first started to notice starting problems. A dead battery could have been avoided!
So how do you know when car battery should be replaced? There are several warning signs that something is going wrong under the hood:
- Intermittent starting. Your car may start for a couple of days in a row, and then not the next.
- Unusual noises. Clicking sounds when you turn the key in the ignition is a sign the engine isn’t receiving enough power from the battery to start.
- Dimming headlights. The headlights aren’t getting enough power to fully illuminate.
- Electrical accessories don’t work. The electronic accessories, such as the power seats, power windows, navigation, radio, plus anything else you have plugged in, are dependent upon receiving enough power from the battery to function properly.
- Dashboard warning light. Typically in the shape of a battery, this little light is a warning that the battery is dying, either because it is going bad or that the alternator is failing and cannot keep the battery charged.
- Swollen battery case. Constant exposure to extreme temperatures (i.e., freezing and thawing) can cause the outside case of the battery to swell, resulting in the battery going bad.
- Four-years-old. If your car battery has reached the four-year mark, it can become unreliable.
- Loose connections. If the battery connections are loose, the battery can bounce around, losing its charge and appearing to be dying.
- Lights left on. Lights left on overnight or for other extended periods of time without the car running will drain the charge from the battery. A simple jump may be all that is needed to start your car and recharge the battery.
Have more questions about when car battery should be replaced? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care today for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.
