If your car’s battery is over three years old, it’s getting too old, but we’ll talk more about battery age and lifespan below. You rely on your battery every time you start your automobile. If it is dead, your car, truck, crossover, or SUV is dead. How can you tell if your car’s battery is dying? Crossroads Automotive lists the signs of battery trouble below.
Power Troubles
One of the first signs that your car’s battery is dying is power problems. You may find that it’s getting more and more difficult to start your automobile. You may notice that your headlights are dimmer than they used to be. It may seem as if your power windows have slowed down or it takes longer for your power seats to adjust. All of these things indicate inadequate power being sent to the accessories.
Corroded Terminals
If you visually inspect your battery, you can get clued in to its health. Inside your battery are lead plates and sulfuric acid. This combination creates a chemical reaction, and this reaction is how your battery produces power. Older batteries start to leak, and a sign that your battery is leaking is corrosion on the battery terminals. You may also see corrosion down the sides of the battery and on the battery tray.
Cracked Battery Case
If your battery case is cracked, you need to replace your battery no matter how young or old it is. A cracked battery case creates the dangerous situation of a battery acid leak. Your battery case might also bubble, and this is a sign that there is a problem with the chemical reaction inside the battery. Any time the battery case looks strange, you can assume your battery is on the road to dying.
Battery Age
The average lifespan of a car battery is three or four years. Many people can get as much as five years out of their car’s battery, but it’s a good idea to think about replacing it once it hits the three-year mark. You can tell how old your car battery is by looking at the sticker on the battery case. It will have two numbers that represent the month and year your battery was manufactured. For example, if the sticker says 03/18, your battery is three years old.
Give Crossroads Automotive in Topeka, KS, a call to schedule a battery test and inspection. We will check your battery to see how much of a charge it’s still carrying and also inspect the terminals and case for signs of corrosion and other indications of damage.