Nobody wants to hear their car’s engine struggle to start. Scotty’s Automotive advises that if your car’s engine turns over several times before it finally fires up, your battery could be dying. The lifespan of a vehicle battery is three to four years tops. If the battery in your engine has reached this milestone, the hard-starting engine is just one sign that the battery is going bad. Here are other signs.
Dashboard Warning Light
Your vehicle is equipped with a warning system designed to alert you if something is going wrong. In the case of a dying battery, the battery light will illuminate on the dashboard. This light is in the shape of the battery and it can also turn on if the alternator is dying. Head straight to our shop if the light turns on to avoid getting stranded with a vehicle that you cannot get started.
Accessory/Light Malfunction
Part of what the battery does is help the alternator keep everything powered inside your vehicle. This includes the lights, the charging ports, the entertainment system, the navigation system, and the power accessories. If any of these accessories start to malfunction, such as the power seats, your battery may be telling you that it is no longer able to hold a full charge.
Corroded Terminals/Cables
If you are having any of the problems discussed so far, open the hood to examine the battery when the engine is cold. One thing that you want to look for is corrosion on the battery cables and the battery terminals. If you see corrosion on the terminals and cables, the battery has an acid leak. A leaking battery is not good to leave in the engine. It’s time for a new one.
Strong Sulfuric Acid Odors
Even if the terminals and cables are clean, smell around the battery to see if you can detect the odor of rotten eggs. This, too, is a sign that the battery is leaking because this is the odor of sulfuric acid. Again, you don’t want to leave a leaking battery in your automobile.
Strange-Looking Battery Case
Finally, your battery needs to be replaced if the battery case is bubbling, cracked, or warped. The battery case can become misshapen when there is a problem with the chemical reaction inside the battery that generates battery power.
Scotty’s Automotive in Montague, NJ, has you covered, so call us today if you need a new battery.
