7 Potential Signs You Need Your Car Battery Tested or Replaced

The battery in your car is absolutely crucial—without a properly functioning one, your car won’t start, and even worse, running a bad battery for too long can damage other important components.

If you’re wondering how to tell if your car battery is totally dead, here are some of the classic signs it may be time to get yourself a new one.

Symptoms of a Bad Battery

 A dead battery can often be jump started, and sometimes even charged, but all batteries eventually reach a point of no return where replacement is the only option. The good news is that replacing a battery is a quick and easy process when you visit our VW service center in Kansas City.

Dashboard Warnings

One of the most obvious symptoms of a bad battery in a car is the indicator light on your dash. The light is often shaped like a little battery with a plus and minus symbol, so it’s hard to miss.

This light can also mean something is wrong with your charging system in general, including other parts like the voltage regulator, alternator, and alternator belts, which will probably require a service technician to properly diagnose. Before you bring your car to the shop, you may want to inspect the battery, because the light could also be on because of a simple issue like corrosion or loose terminal clamps.

A Slow Startup

When you jump into the driver’s seat and turn the key to your car, the engine should fire up without a fuss. If it sounds like it’s struggling when you engage the ignition, a worn-out battery may be the culprit.

Specifically, this will sound like the engine is turning over slower or more sluggish than usual. You may also notice that your dash electronics aren’t glowing as strongly as they usually do, which indicates that the system isn’t getting enough juice.

This is an especially common problem during the winter months, because cold weather can slow down the chemical reaction inside the battery and sap their power over time. If you live somewhere that experiences below freezing temps often, you may want to ask your local service professional about buying a battery with more cold cranking amps (CCA).

Dim or Flickering Lights

There are a lot of things that can cause the lights in your car to flicker or fade. For instance, if your dash display isn’t as bright as before, it could be a faulty fuse, and a dim headlight may simply need a new bulb.

However, if you notice multiple components like the stereo, dome lights, and instruments flickering all at once, it might mean the battery is on its way out. It’s also a good idea to have your alternator checked.

Excessive Corrosion

You know that off-white crusty stuff that forms around the terminals? That’s corrosion.

A certain amount is common, and even normal, so if you pop the hood and see corrosion on your battery, don’t panic. The first thing you should do is clean the terminals, because leaving the corrosion can shorten battery life. You can do this using a wire brush and battery terminal cleaner, but an old toothbrush with baking soda and warm water also works in a pinch.

After the battery is cleaned, keep on eye on it by checking weekly. As long as more corrosion doesn’t form and the battery appears to be performing fine otherwise, it probably doesn’t need to be replaced right away.

The Smell of Sulfur

Unexpected smells are never a good sign when it comes to cars, especially if it smells like rotten eggs.

A sulfur smell is often associated with a busted catalytic converter or some other exhaust component. However, under certain conditions, lead-acid batteries can emit a rotten smell if they form a leak. You should be able to quickly pinpoint whether the battery is the problem by giving it a quick look—the smell will be much more noticeable with the hood open, and you may even see fluid coming out of it.

Leaking battery acid is toxic, so do not try to handle it yourself. Bring it in or have it towed to a shop.

Bulging or Cracking at the Sides

When you look at your battery, you may notice signs of visible damage. This damage may look like a crack in the plastic, or it may be a more subtle swelling of the sides. The swelling or cracking are often caused by too much heat or overcharging, which can create a chemical reaction that produces gasses inside the battery, which in turn causes pressure to build up and eventually damage the exterior.

Cracks can also form in a battery if it’s jostled around in the engine compartment too much, which is why it’s important to make sure the battery is firmly secured at all times.

If a battery is cracked or swollen, it’s pretty much toast. The safest course of action is to have the car towed to a service center and allow the professionals to handle it, because a compromised battery can be dangerous.

Repeated Jump Starts

Jump starting your car can bring the battery back from the brink, as long as it’s done correctly and there aren’t any other underlying problems that might continue to be a cause of battery drain.

But, every time your battery dies, it runs the risk of causing permanent damage to the cells inside. The extent of the damage will depend on how many times it’s died and how long it was dead, and the only way to know for sure is to have it tested. If you find that you have to jump your car over and over again, or if a jump start just doesn’t work, you’re due for a new battery.

How Long Do Car Batteries Last, Anyway?

Most automotive professionals agree that you can expect a garden variety car battery to last 3 to 5 years, but it depends on a few key factors.

• Certain driving habits can be harder on a battery, especially if you’re prone to taking a lot of short trips, because the alternator may not have time to replenish the charge that was spent starting the car.

• Weather and climate will affect battery life in a big way, especially if you deal with exceedingly hot or cold temperatures on a regular basis.

• Letting your car sit for weeks at a time will kill your battery due to parasitic drain.

• If a battery sat on the shelf for too long before you bought it, it may have lost some of its oomph.

Schedule Battery Service Near Overland Park Today

If you’re experiencing any of the above warning signs of a dead battery, don’t wait until you’re stuck on the side of the road waiting for a jump start. Get ahead of the problem and visit our certified service center right near Leawood, KS.

We make it easy to schedule an appointment online, and if you’re worried about the cost of battery replacement, we also offer service financing so you can make payments without breaking the bank. Give our service department a call at (816) 941-9500 to learn more.

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