When Does a Car Battery Need to Be Replaced?

By, 2018-09-06

The battery is the main part that operates all parts of the car and without it the car will not work perfectly. Some people believe that the car battery lasts for lifelong and does not need to be replaced, but the truth is the opposite! There is a lifespan for the car battery and there are many factors that affect the length or shortness of that lifespan. So, does the car battery need to be replaced? When should this be done?

Battery Lifespan:

Car manufacturers believe that the battery lasts for 5 years or more in normal conditions if cared about. But with some external effects it is possible that the battery will lose its efficiency in 3 years or less. Like the battery of your mobile phone or laptop, the more battery usage and charging the less efficient and faster, so as the car battery!

What Factors affect your car's battery lifespan?

High temperature on the battery, whether due to air temperature or misuse of the car.
The battery does not have enough charging due to a fault in charging or in the charging system in the car.
The operation of many technologies in the car such as GPS or MP3 players consumes a lot of battery power and thus reduces its life span.

How to check battery efficiency:

Do not wait until the car battery stops working to know that the car is dead or needs to be replaced. Check battery efficiency from time to tome or every time you go to change the oil. This is done through an electronic tester which you can find in almost all auto car shops. It checks the operation and condition of the battery and whether the battery needs to be replaced or not.

Signs of battery damage:

ٍThere are many signs that tell you that your car battary is dead or about to be dead. For example, you can also notice some changes on the battery, whether you are driving or traveling on long journeys. As excessive use affects the lifespan of the battery, not using the car for years or for a long time lead to a dead battery. If you notice some corrosion or pigmentation on the battery, it means there is leakage inside the battery and there is a problem. If there are accumulations on the battery, it must be cleaned and removed so it doesn't affect the battery.

When do I change the car battery?

The car battery should be replaced after 3 years of usage to ensure that battery wont stop suddenly while you are driving and thus endanger your life.

If you notice some changes on the battery such as signs of battery wear from the outside.

Bad smells getting out of the car battery.

If the battery becomes efficiency weak and needs a lot of time to operate the car.

If you notice poor lighting in front and rear car lights.

The presence of liquid substances or salts accumulated on them.

Further reading: The meaning of numbers and letters on tires

How do I choose the new battery for the car?

Age:

All types of batteries have a production date where the battery must be sold after 6 months from the date of production. To read the date you will notice a letter and a number on the battery where the character symbolizes the month of production, for example the letter A represents the month of January and so on. As for the numbers, it presents the year of production. For example, the number 0 means 2000, the number 1 means 2001 and so on.

Group size:

Keep in mind that the new battery has the same size as the replaced battery. The size of the battery can be determined by the type or model of the vehicle.

Reserve capacity:

One of the most important things to know before buying a battery. It represents the distance or duration that the battery can operate the car without recharging if the alternator suddenly dies. You can figure out this number through the battery literature or sometimes on the battery itself.

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