When Should You Replace Your Car Battery?
According to auto shops, one of the most common reasons for roadside assistance calls is a dead battery. If your battery is starting to fail, your vehicle doesn't have the power to start, move, or power any of the electrical accessories.
So when should you replace your car battery, you ask? Under normal driving conditions, after just three years, car batteries can become worn down and inefficient. If your battery is four or five years old, it may be almost completely unreliable. Car batteries work just like a cell-phone battery--with every charge, it becomes less efficient. Weak batteries will have a negative effect on the auto electrical system, such as headlights, power windows, radio, etc.
The stop-start technology in newer cars could also be negatively affected as engines that are designed to automatically switch off when at a standstill place a greater strain on batteries than standard vehicles. Many new cars have powerful computers that are operating all the time, even when the vehicle is parked and switched off, drawing energy from the battery at a slow, steady rate.
If you are noticing any of the signs below, it may be time for a car battery replacement:
- The engine won’t start even though you hear it cranking.
- You turn the key in the starter but nothing happens.
- Your vehicle may start randomly one day and not the next.
Starting problems? Check out the issues below:
- Battery terminals and cables may be loose, broken, corroded, or calcified,
- The fluid level in the terminals may be too low,
- An electrical current is drawing power from the battery even when the car is turned off,
- The starter is going bad,
- The alternator is going bad.
Remember to add your car battery to your maintenance checklist, just like changing the oil, air filter, tires rotation, and windshield wipers.
When should you replace your car battery? Contact our ASE Certified technicians today at Elk River Tire & Auto for more information about a 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.
According to auto shops, one of the most common reasons for roadside assistance calls is a dead battery. If your battery is starting to fail, your vehicle doesn't have the power to start, move, or power any of the electrical accessories.
So when should you replace your car battery, you ask? Under normal driving conditions, after just three years, car batteries can become worn down and inefficient. If your battery is four or five years old, it may be almost completely unreliable. Car batteries work just like a cell-phone battery--with every charge, it becomes less efficient. Weak batteries will have a negative effect on the auto electrical system, such as headlights, power windows, radio, etc.
The stop-start technology in newer cars could also be negatively affected as engines that are designed to automatically switch off when at a standstill place a greater strain on batteries than standard vehicles. Many new cars have powerful computers that are operating all the time, even when the vehicle is parked and switched off, drawing energy from the battery at a slow, steady rate.
If you are noticing any of the signs below, it may be time for a car battery replacement:
- The engine won’t start even though you hear it cranking.
- You turn the key in the starter but nothing happens.
- Your vehicle may start randomly one day and not the next.
Starting problems? Check out the issues below:
- Battery terminals and cables may be loose, broken, corroded, or calcified,
- The fluid level in the terminals may be too low,
- An electrical current is drawing power from the battery even when the car is turned off,
- The starter is going bad,
- The alternator is going bad.
Remember to add your car battery to your maintenance checklist, just like changing the oil, air filter, tires rotation, and windshield wipers.
When should you replace your car battery? Contact our ASE Certified technicians today at Elk River Tire & Auto for more information about a 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.
