Your car’s battery is a critical component. When it isn’t working, you can’t start your car at all. Lakelands Tire & Auto has these tips for you so that you can spot when your battery is having trouble.
The Battery Doesn’t Look Right
You can tell a lot more about the health of your car’s battery than you think, just by looking at it. If you see corrosion, or a white powdery substance, on the battery’s terminals, that’s not good news. Also, if you notice that the battery’s case is bowing out or has cracks anywhere, your battery is in trouble. These signs are indications that there may be a leak somewhere in the battery and that the battery is not functioning the way that it should.
The Battery Is Old
Believe it or not, car batteries are not meant to last forever. Most of the time car owners forget about the battery until something happens, like the battery dies completely. When you buy a new battery, pay attention to how long the battery manufacturer says it will last. Most have a lifespan of around four or five years. If your battery is older than that, it very likely needs to be replaced.
Random Accessories Won’t Turn on or Function
One of the things you’ll notice when your car’s battery starts to have issues is that you have more trouble with accessories. Anything that is plugged into the car’s electrical system, like a phone charger or a GPS device, may start to act weird. Or it may not work at all. This is a sign that the car is not able to send power to everything and you may want to get the battery and the alternator checked.
Your Car Won’t Start at All
Finally, at some point in the battery failure process you’re likely to experience a moment when your car either has a tough time starting or doesn’t start at all. You may have some success with jump starting the car, but if you ignore this hint you may well find yourself stranded with a completely dead battery that won’t even respond to a jump start.
Suspect that your car’s battery is on its last legs? Don’t wait. Give us a call at Lakelands Tire & Auto in Greenwood, SC. We can test your car’s battery for you, as well as the rest of the electrical system, and make sure that your car has what it needs to start every single time.