Your car battery is potentially the most crucial part of your vehicle. Without it, your car won’t be able to start and you’ll be going nowhere. So when your car battery begins to die, you’ll need to change it.
Continue reading the post below to find out everything there is on car batteries, including how they work and how to tell when yours needs changing and your car needs to be booked into a garage.
Car Battery Workings
Though you may not know it, your car’s battery does much more than just start the car. There are a few different things your car’s battery does besides providing power for your vehicle. It’s multi-purpose!
- Protector – The battery acts as a surge protector for the car’s computer system.
- Voltage – Your car’s battery helps to regulate the voltage within your vehicle.
- Short-term – It provides power for the lights, radio, GPS and more when the vehicle is off.
- Alternator – Your battery works with the alternator to provide energy to smaller electrical appliances.
- Ignition – The battery provides electricity to the car’s ignition system when you start your engine, igniting it up.
Some of those were probably pretty obvious, but there must’ve been some new facts there! Your car’s battery does so much more than you realise, making itself a vital part of the car’s workings.
Replacement Signs
Knowing when your car battery needs replacing is a super important part of owning a car. Without this knowledge, you won’t be able to properly maintain and take care of your vehicle. Obviously, we just had to let you know the warning signs! We’re sharing our knowledge!
Electrics
Losing power to some or all of your car’s electrics is a pretty common warning sign your battery will soon need replacing. This includes the windows, lights, AC, heating and more. These not working might simply be down to the battery not working as it should.
Warning Light
Another common and easy-to-spot sign is your battery warning light coming up on your dashboard. This light popping up indicates your car’s battery isn’t charging itself properly, meaning it’ll need to be replaced.
Starting
Your car struggling to start itself when you switch it on is a huge indicator that your battery needs replacing. The primary function of the battery is to provide power to the car, so if your car is struggling to start, or not starting at all, it definitely needs replacing.
Five Years
If your battery is more than five years old it should be replaced even if none of the warning signs are showing up. Having a healthy battery is key to making sure you’re safe on the road. It’s better to know for sure your battery works than to worry over the idea of your battery failing you whilst you’re out.
Headlights
When you’re idle in your car, your headlights might go dim. This is a marker that your battery will need replacing. This is a display of a loss of power to the car’s electronics but since we use lights every time it’s dark, this is a great way to tell.
Corrosion
When opening your car’s hood, you’ll be able to see the inner workings of your engine. Your car’s engine should be clean. Well, as clean as an engine can be. If you see corrosion present on your battery, it’s time to get it replaced.
Cold Weather
We all struggle in the cold weather, but your car’s engine shouldn’t. If you’re finding it hard to start your car in winter, heat it in cold weather and more, there’s a good chance your battery has frozen over and will need replacing.
Strange Smell
If there’s a strange smell around your car that you didn’t notice before, there’s a high chance this is from a failing battery. When your battery is leaking gas, a strange smell will fill your car. This gas is sulfuric acid and can be dangerous to surround yourself with.
All of these signs and symptoms are important when it comes to car maintenance, especially since your battery leaking gas can be harmful to those sitting inside the car. If you’re ever unsure of what maintenance is needed, or you’re worried about your battery, it’s always worth getting a professional to check it.
