A car battery is considered old after three years. On average, the battery will last between three to five years, but you may start to have problems earlier if there is an issue with the battery. You can check the age of your car’s battery by looking at the sticker on it. The sticker will list the month and year of the battery’s manufacture. This gives you the exact age of your battery. Aside from this, the signs listed below are also symptoms of an old car battery.
Battery Warning Light
The dashboard is equipped with several warning lights that are system specific. In the case of the electrical system, the battery light will illuminate if there is a problem with the battery. As such, if your battery is going bad, you may see the battery light turn on and remain on until you replace the battery. It’s also important to know that a faulty alternator can result in an illuminated battery light.
Frequent Jump-starts
If the battery is struggling to retain a charge, which happens when it gets too old, it will need to be jump-started quite a bit to get your engine running. Frequent jump-starts are a clear-cut sign that you need to remove the old battery and install a new one. We can do that for you at our shop, and, in addition, we can dispose of the old battery properly so you do not need to worry about that.
Accessory Problems
Another symptom of an old battery is problems with your vehicle’s accessories. This can be slow power windows or seats, problems with the console touchscreen, issues with the GPS or entertainment system, or other accessory problems. For example, you need a new battery if you have problems seeing at night because the headlights are extremely dim. They are not getting enough power to illuminate brightly.
Leaking Battery Acid
The battery can also start to leak if it is old. This will corrode the terminals. The leaking battery will also corrode the cable connectors attached to the terminals. You will be able to see the corrosion. If you see corrosion, lean over the battery and take a whiff. If you smell rancid eggs, the battery is leaking acid.
Misshapen Battery Case
Finally, the battery case can reveal a problem inside the battery. There is a chemical reaction that goes on inside the battery to generate electricity. If this reaction goes bad, your battery case may warp.
Call us today if you are having battery problems. We are here to help.
