If you are lucky, your car’s battery will give you a warning that it is dying. If you act right away, you may never get stranded with a dead battery. This being said, the battery can also die without warning and leave you stranded. Let’s talk about the signs that your car battery is dying below.
The Battery Is Old
One of the first things to take into account is the battery’s age. You can determine how old your battery is by looking at the sticker on it. This sticker contains two numbers that reflect the month and the year the battery was made. In other words, if the sticker says 10/19, your battery was made in October 2019. Unfortunately, this is also a sign that your battery is three years old, which is the average lifespan.
The Battery Light Is On
Your vehicle’s engine control unit may also warn you that the battery is going bad. If the battery is having problems generating power or holding a charge, the unit may turn on the battery light on the dashboard and leave it illuminated. If your engine is running, we recommend you drive straight to our shop.
Frequent Jump-Starts
Another sign that your battery is getting too old is if you have to jump-start the battery frequently. You may also notice that your engine cranks more times than it normally does before it starts. Both of these things point to the fact that the battery is no longer holding the charge being sent to it by the alternator.
Electrical Issues
Along with the alternator, the battery helps to power the electrical components in your automobile. This includes things such as the power windows and seats, the car radio, the navigation system, and the USB charging ports. If you start to have issues with the components, the battery is going bad. The same is true if your headlights and interior lights are too dim.
Corroded Terminals
An old battery may start to leak battery acid. When this happens, the terminals and battery cable connectors will corrode. If you pop the hood when the engine is cold and see corrosion on the terminals, you need to replace the battery.
You Smell Rotten Eggs
If you smell rotten eggs but the terminals are clean, your battery is still leaking acid. The acid that is found inside car batteries is sulfuric acid, and this acid smells like rotten eggs.
Finally, if the battery case looks warped or cracked, you need to replace the battery right away because the interior chemical reaction is malfunctioning. We can do that at our shop, so call us today.