Your car is literally a brick without the car battery. If there is no charge, there is no ignition or driving around, & you might as well be stranded on the highway. Your battery might be old or low on electrolytes, but the fact of the matter is, you need to be regular on your car’s service!
Diagnosing the signs of a bad battery might feel like divination to new car owners, which is why Mike Patton CDJR has compiled a quick list of portents to expect as your battery degrades.
1. Dashboard Warning Lights
The dashboard lights are there for good reason because you will promptly know what component of your car is triggering the fault sensor. Unfortunately, people notice it too late in most cases, leading to a full battery drain or death. If there are draining issues, that could be a damaged alternator, but no matter what, do not ignore checking your dashboard lights every time you are in the car.
2. Cranking & Delayed Start
If your car takes a while to start in Hogansville’s frigid weather, that is to be expected because the cold affects car battery conductivity. But, if your car is cranking up on every self and eventually needs a push or a jump-start, that might mean the battery is drained out. You can check it for leaks or cracks, but if there is no visible damage yet the car delays in starting, a replacement is in order.
3. Lagging Electrical System
Your car’s power windows, AC fans, windshield wipers & headlights will all be affected by a weak or degrading battery. That also means weakened reaction of safety sensors which can delay deployment of safety features in an accident. If your car has a cranking start, you should test out your electricals, check the dashboard warning, and safely cruise over to our dealership for a full electricals check & battery service.
4. Terminal Deposits
You will notice that with time, strange blue grey crystals form on the battery terminals, in some cases, fusing the clamps to the terminals. These deposits make it harder for the battery to conduct electricity to power the car. In many cases, all it takes is an electrolyte refill and a thorough scrubbing of the terminals to remove the deposits, and the battery conducts perfectly again.
5. Deformed Battery Case
If your battery, engine, & temperature warning lights have been prominent for a while, you must have a bulging battery case by now. The heat causes pressure buildup in the battery, affecting its function and rendering it useless & hazardous with time. Take a bulging battery case as a warning to check your engine oil, coolant, and battery health on time.
We hope these signs are easy for you to notice. Once you do, please refrain from delaying a battery check and get over to Mike Patton CDJR, serving Hogansville, GA, for a thorough mechanic & technical checkup of your car’s electricals. We have all the specials & authentic replacements in case your starter motor or alternator is shot so you can trust in our AAA standard service!
Schedule a meet & greet with our auto experts today!
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