When a car fails to start, or it shuts down soon after starting, chances are that there is a problem with the battery. This is such a clear sign that prompts someone to immediately head to a local garage and get the car battery checked. Sometimes, the problem might be smaller, like a discharged battery, or sometimes, it won’t even be the battery, but something like a faulty spark plug. However, there are also times when the problem is so big that drivers end up going for a car battery replacement West Bromwich instead. This is not only time-consuming and costly, but also lowers the overall efficiency of the vehicle, the longer it keeps running with the problematic battery.
Hence, one has to take better care of the battery and ensure that nothing goes wrong with it. Towards this, one should be on the lookout for any warning signs that indicate battery trouble, and when there are such signs, immediately head to a local garage. Keeping the same in mind, we have come up with the following blog that talks about the various warning signs one should be on the lookout for regarding car battery replacement.
Driving With an Older Car Battery
The most obvious problem one can look out for or anticipate is when they are driving with a car battery that is really too old. Like any other car component, the car battery also has a lifespan. Typically, this can last a decade or even more, with proper care. However, this doesn’t mean one should expect the same level of performance with such older batteries as one could get with relatively newer ones. The older battery will obviously have issues, like slow charging, poor backup, or even rust and corrosion. Thus, one needs to check the older battery periodically to ensure that it has an output of 12.6 volts or higher. If not, then there is an immediate need for battery replacement. Although we still recommend first getting it properly checked before any replacements, by going for car servicing West Bromwich.
Car Taking Too Long to Start, Especially in the Morning
As mentioned above, when a car fails to start immediately, as it should, then it’s best to suspect a battery problem, more so when it has been parked overnight. This indicates a failing car battery that is in urgent need of replacement. Typically, a car battery gets charged as the car drives. So, even when it stays parked throughout the night, the battery has enough power to start the car. But if it fails to do so, then it can only mean either of two things: one, that the car battery is no longer capable of being charged, or two, that it no longer retains power and discharges quickly. In both cases, battery replacement is the right choice.
Vehicle Needing Frequent Jump Starts
Most of the car owners know the term jump start. It is the process of starting a car when its battery has died, using a temporary electrical connection from another vehicle or a portable jump starter. Here, the operative word is ‘died.’ So, frequent jump starts equate to a dead battery, and a dead battery means replacement. A healthy battery needs not only to get fully charged, but also to retain the power. However, if the car needs frequent jump starts, then what is the use of the battery?
Very Slow Engine Turnover
When a driver puts the car key in the starter and turns it to start the car, the first thing that happens is that the starter motor begins to rotate. Hence, drivers can hear the crankshaft and the pistons moving. However, this doesn’t mean that the engine is running; it is merely the engine spinning, which makes the ‘whomp whomp’ sound. We call it engine turnover. However, when the vehicle has a faulty battery, the engine spins sluggishly and produces a sound as if laboured or weak, which is known as a slow engine turnover. This is the result of a power issue related directly to the car battery. And so, when there is a slow engine turnover, the battery might need a replacement, especially if this is happening in combination with any other points raised in the blog.
A Rancid Smell Coming From the Battery
If one wants a more direct and obvious sign, then try to smell the car battery. If there is a rancid and horrid smell, then it means that the battery is long gone, and the only recourse is replacement. The smell, akin to a rotten egg, is produced by the presence of sulfuric acid as the batter deteriorates. Drivers should be extra careful when such a smell becomes apparent, as waiting can cause the sulfuric acid to cause trouble to the engine or even other car components.
Conclusion
In the end, choosing to turn a blind eye when the problem is battery-related is never a wise option, as it not only concerns car performance but also road safety. So, we urge our readers to be on the lookout for any signs discussed in the blog and take battery replacement quite seriously.
