What Are the Signs You Need a New Car Battery?

Mar 4, 2021

Every car needs a battery to help fire up the engine and keep the electrical systems and components running smoothly. But batteries don’t last forever. They wear down over time and will need to be replaced every few years. This guide will help you figure out when the time is right for a new car battery.

The Importance of Getting a New Car Battery

When a car battery starts to run low on power, various issues can arise. Your car might run less efficiently, for starters, and the electrical systems might not work as well as they used to. In the worst case, your car can simply become unresponsive, leaving you stranded and unable to drive anywhere at all. This is why you have to take action whenever you notice any of the following warning signs.

Warning Lights

One of the easiest ways to identify battery problems is to check your dashboard for any illuminated warning lights. Lights that are shaped like batteries clearly show that something may be wrong, and other lights, including the ‘ALT’ light and the “Check Engine” light could be connected to battery problems too.

Visible Swelling, Damage, or Corrosion

If you were to see a healthy and an unhealthy car battery side-by-side, you’d easily be able to tell which one is which. Healthy car batteries look completely normal, with a clear shape and no signs of trouble. Damaged or dying batteries, however, can be swollen, misshapen, or have visible leaks and patches of corrosion around their cases. So take a peek under the hood and see how your battery is looking.

Engine Problems

The battery in your car helps to get the engine ignited when you turn the key, providing power to the spark plugs to start the ignition process off. When batteries are low on power, it can be harder or take more time to actually start the car.

Sulfur Smells

Car batteries contain a mixture of chemicals, including sulfur. So when batteries get damaged or start leaking, sulfurous gases can be produced, and it’s really easy for a driver to detect this, as sulfur smells very strongly of rotten eggs. So if you notice that unpleasant odor in or around your vehicle, the battery may be to blame.

Headlight Trouble

The headlights are among the most important safety features of any vehicle, helping drivers see in the dark and be seen by other road users too, and trying to drive with faulty or unreliable headlights is very dangerous. Unfortunately, when batteries are on the way out, headlights may start to flicker or fail, putting you in a risky position. As soon as you see any headlight problems, be sure to get your car checked out.