Tri Valley Auto Repair & Diesel advises that if you keep having to jump-start your battery, the battery is dying and needs to be replaced. Usually, a battery will go bad after it has been used for three years. If your battery is older than this, it probably isn’t holding that much of a charge anymore. Continually jump-starting the battery is one sign it is going bad. Here are other signs.
Warning Light
You may end up with the battery light illuminated on the dashboard if the battery is going bad. This light will turn on briefly when you first start your automobile. If it stays on, or turns on while you are driving, the engine control unit is telling you that it has received an error code from the battery.
Difficult Starts
As we mentioned above, frequently having to jump-start the battery means it is going bad. You may also have a hard time starting your automobile. In other words, the engine will crank more often than it normally does before it fires up. This, too, points to a need for a new battery.
Electrical Issues
If your vehicle’s electrical components are acting strange, the battery could be the reason why. A dying battery will reduce the brightness of the headlights and the other vehicle lights. It will also slow down the power seats and windows. Finally, it may cause components to malfunction.
Corroded Terminals
It’s a good idea to inspect older batteries to make sure the terminals are not corroded. If they are, the battery is slowly leaking battery acid. You can clean the terminals, but the better solution is to replace the battery. You do not want to battery in the engine that is leaking acid.
Rancid Smells
You can breathe a sigh of relief if the terminals are corroded provided you don’t smell anything rancid around the battery. If you do smell rotten eggs, the battery is leaking sulfuric acid. This is the type of acid that is used in car batteries for the chemical reaction between the acid and the cells.
Misshapen Case
Speaking of the chemical reaction inside the battery, something is wrong with it if the battery case looks weird. A bad chemical reaction can cause the case to bubble, crack, or warp. You definitely need to replace the battery if the case is misshapen.
Tri Valley Auto Repair & Diesel in Limon, CO, is here to help, so call us today to set up a service visit if your car needs a new battery.
