When should you replace your car battery?

As simple as the car battery sounds, it is the most important piece of equipment your car wants in order to be driven down the street.  The battery is an energy storage component that relies on a chemical reaction to produce electricity. This stored energy operates the starter motor, ignition system, and fuel system. Once the motor is running, it is really the alternator that supplies the electricity needed for all the other electrical systems, plus keeps the battery charged while the car is running.

 

Don’t delay for your battery to fail totally and leave you stranded on the side of the road on a hot summer day.  If you keep driving with a weak battery, the alternator can be overloaded which then affects the operation of the auto electrical system.

So when should you replace your car battery?  These situations are good indicators that it’s time for a car battery replacement:

• Car won’t start. As for battery ages, the cranking amps become lower than the original rating. Once the cranking amps fall below a certain level, your car won’t start.
• Battery warning light. If the battery warning light illuminates on the instrument panel while driving, have the battery charge inspected to see if it wants to replace it.
• Electrical components don’t work.  As the battery starts to go bad, the voltage it produces drips, resulting in the other electrical components in your car start goes malfunction.

Remember:  Normally, a battery will give good service anywhere between 4 to 7 years.  Although a battery will die ultimately, it is possible to extend its service life with good maintenance.  If you happen to have a new battery and it keeps dying, there is something else going on under the hood.  Ask your auto mechanic to check it out!

Wondering when should you replace your car battery?  Consult our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.