What are the Signs of a Weak Car Battery?
The car battery is the most underrated, but the most important piece of equipment your car needs in order to drive your car down the street. It is actually an energy storage device that relies on a chemical reaction to produce electricity. This stored electrical energy operates the starter motor, ignition system, and fuel system. Once the motor is running, it is the alternator that supplies the electricity needed for all the other vehicle systems and re-charges the battery as the car runs.
Is it safe to drive with a weak battery? Yes, but if your battery should die completely, you could be stranded on the side of the road on a freezing winter day. A weak battery can also overload the alternator which can have a negative effect on the operation of the auto electrical system.
Don’t wait for your battery to fail completely. Generally, a battery will give good service anywhere between four to seven years. If you happen to have a new battery and it keeps dying, there is something else going on under the hood. Ask your mechanic to check it out!
So what are the signs of a weak car battery? Here are a few situations which indicate it is time for a car battery replacement:
- Your car won’t start. As for battery ages, the cranking amps become lower than the original rating. Once the cranking amps fall below a certain level, you will not be able to start your car.
- The battery warning light illuminates. If the battery warning light comes on while you’re driving, ask your mechanic to see if the battery needs to be replaced.
- Electrical components don’t work. When a battery starts to fail, the voltage it produces drops, leading to the malfunction of the other electrical components in your car.
Remember: Every battery will die eventually. But the key to prolonging the service life of a battery and avoid a premature car battery replacement is to keep it well-maintained.
Are you wondering what are the signs of a weak car battery? Contact our ASE Certified technicians today at Elk River Tire & Auto for more information about car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop in Elk River, MN proudly serves residents in the areas of Zimmerman, and Otsego, Minnesota.
The car battery is the most underrated, but the most important piece of equipment your car needs in order to drive your car down the street. It is actually an energy storage device that relies on a chemical reaction to produce electricity. This stored electrical energy operates the starter motor, ignition system, and fuel system. Once the motor is running, it is the alternator that supplies the electricity needed for all the other vehicle systems and re-charges the battery as the car runs.
Is it safe to drive with a weak battery? Yes, but if your battery should die completely, you could be stranded on the side of the road on a freezing winter day. A weak battery can also overload the alternator which can have a negative effect on the operation of the auto electrical system.
Don’t wait for your battery to fail completely. Generally, a battery will give good service anywhere between four to seven years. If you happen to have a new battery and it keeps dying, there is something else going on under the hood. Ask your mechanic to check it out!
So what are the signs of a weak car battery? Here are a few situations which indicate it is time for a car battery replacement:
- Your car won’t start. As for battery ages, the cranking amps become lower than the original rating. Once the cranking amps fall below a certain level, you will not be able to start your car.
- The battery warning light illuminates. If the battery warning light comes on while you’re driving, ask your mechanic to see if the battery needs to be replaced.
- Electrical components don’t work. When a battery starts to fail, the voltage it produces drops, leading to the malfunction of the other electrical components in your car.
Remember: Every battery will die eventually. But the key to prolonging the service life of a battery and avoid a premature car battery replacement is to keep it well-maintained.
Are you wondering what are the signs of a weak car battery? Contact our ASE Certified technicians today at Elk River Tire & Auto for more information about car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop in Elk River, MN proudly serves residents in the areas of Zimmerman, and Otsego, Minnesota.
