Del Hatt Automotive hates to say it, but if the battery light is on and remains on, your car’s battery is likely dying. On average, you should never expect to get any more than about three to four years out of the battery. If your car’s battery is this old or older, the battery life is giving you the heads up that it’s time to replace the battery so you don’t end up stranded with a dead battery.
Difficult Starts
Another sign that your car’s battery is going bad is difficulty starting the automobile. If the battery is having problems producing power because it cannot remain charged, your car will crank several times slowly before it fires up. If the battery has discharged completely, you will not be able to get the vehicle started without jump-starting the battery first.
Electrical Issues
Your car’s battery could also be dying if you are having electrical problems with your automobile. These problems include dim headlights, dim interior lights, and accessory malfunctions. For example, if you find it hard to see at night because your headlights are not bright enough, this is an indication that the battery is weakening and not producing enough power.
Corroded Terminals
The battery terminals may also start to corrode on an older battery. This corrosion is caused by a battery leak. As the battery acid leaks out of the battery, it corrodes the terminals and connectors. You can clean the corrosion away with a solution of baking soda and water, but your best bet is to replace the battery, especially if it is over three years old.
Misshapen Case
If the chemical reaction inside of the battery starts to fail, it could actually change the shape of the battery case. It’s important to replace a car battery right away if the case is misshapen or bubbling. You should also replace the battery if the case has developed a crack. Check your car battery frequently if it is older to make sure that the case and terminals look fine.
Sulfur Smells
Finally, if you detect sulfur odors while you are inspecting the battery, your battery is leaking. Sulfur has an unpleasant odor that reminds many people of the smell of rotten eggs. The only other time you might smell rotten eggs in your vehicle is if the catalytic converter is malfunctioning. You definitely need a new battery if it is leaking battery acid.
We can help here at Del Hatt Automotive in Poughkeepsie, NY, so call us today.
