The average lifespan of a car battery is three to five years unless there is a phantom drain in the engine. Trojan Auto Care warns that you may not get any signs before your battery dies. Hopefully, you will, and we will list those signs below. Please understand, however, that these are also signs of a failing alternator. We will need to test both auto parts to see which one is going bad.
Hard Starts
If your vehicle starts to crank a few times before it fires up, this can be a sign that the battery is dying. This can also be a sign of a problem with the alternator, as the alternator keeps the battery charged. Bring your vehicle to our shop the first time it is hesitant to start. If you keep driving it, you will end up with a dead battery soon.
Dim Lights
A dying battery can also make your headlights, taillights, and interior lights dimmer than they normally are. They may flicker, or go from bright to dim sporadically if the battery is having a hard time powering them. You will also notice a difference in how bright your dashboard light is when you are driving at night.
Slow Accessories
A dying battery can also slow down your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s accessories. This includes the power accessories, such as the windows and seats, the entertainment accessories, and your GPS. If any of these accessories start to malfunction or slow down, you may have a problem with the battery or the alternator.
Corroded Terminals
At the first sign of trouble, i.e., when your engine cranked a few times before it started, turn the engine off, pop the hood, and take a look at the battery terminals. If they and/or the cables are corroded, this could be the problem. You can clean the cables and terminals yourself using baking soda and water. If this doesn’t solve the problem, your battery is likely dying.
Rotten Egg Odors
An older battery might start to leak. When this happens, it leaks sulfuric acid. If you smell rotten eggs coming from around the battery, this is definitely a sign that your battery is leaking and dying.
Battery Case Damage
Finally, a damaged battery case means that you need to replace the battery right away. The case can bubble or become cracked if the chemical reaction going on inside the battery is faulty.
Trojan Auto Care in Troy, OH, can help. Call us today if you would like us to inspect your battery.
