How to Tell If Your Car Battery Is About to Die: Warning Signs

 

Your battery is what powers up your vehicle and keeps it running. It’s what powers your lights, radio, and wipers. It’s the centre of your starting system and, once the car is started, it’s the battery that protects against a dangerous surge in power going to the vehicle’s built-in computer. This is why any Earlwood mechanic will agree that drivers need to look after their batteries better. You can start by learning the warning signs that might indicate that your battery is going to die.

Warning Light

The battery shaped warning light on your dash should not be illuminated at any time. If this warning light comes on, it’s a signal that something is wrong with the battery, alternator or another component of the charging system. It’s crucial to get this looked at as soon as possible as ignoring it could end up costing you a lot of money.

Clicking Sound But No Start

Do you hear a clicking sound when turning the key in the ignition? Is your car not starting? This is a sign that there isn’t enough power in the battery to engage the starter motor and start the engine. Again, find an Earlwood mechanic if this is happening to you as there’s a risk that you’ll ware down other parts of the starting system that may be otherwise working fine.

Electrical Issues

A weak battery will struggle to keep the car’s computer and electronic components working optimally. Dimmed lights, slow wipers, flickering engine lights and malfunctioning electric windows are all signs that there’s a problem the battery.

Old Age 

Old batteries can cause a number of different reliability and safety issues. 3 years is the average lifespan for a healthy car battery. Anything that’s over 3-4 years should be deemed dangerous and unfit for use.

Slow Starting Engine

A slow starting engine could be a signal that your battery is about to go. The start should be instantaneous and you shouldn’t have to turn the key twice for the engine to crank up.

And there you have it - 5 warning signs that your battery is in need of replacement. We hope you’ve learned something new about the mechanics of your car’s starting system and we hope that you can save yourself some stress and money by knowing the signs to look out for.