Your car’s battery should last you roughly three to four years, possibly a little bit less depending on a few variables. It’s important that you inspect your car’s battery regularly to make sure that everything looks okay. J&M Auto Service lists four things below that are a sign that your vehicle’s battery is in trouble. Couple them with age and you might need a new battery.
1. Corrosion
The white buildup that you occasionally see on your battery’s terminals is called corrosion. A little bit of corrosion is normal, but it should be removed with a mixture of baking soda and water. For the most part, corrosion should be easy to remove. However, if there’s a lot of corrosion that has been there a while, this is a sign that your battery needs replacing. It shouldn’t be caked with corrosion.
2. Swelling or Bulging
When you look at your car battery’s case, it should be square on all sides. If the case appears to be bulging or swollen in some areas, this is a sign that excess heat is building up within the battery. Oftentimes, this has to do with overcharging the battery, but not always. It’s best to have the battery examined by an expert to make sure it’s still okay. If not, it’s best to replace the battery.
3. Bubbling
Car batteries are filled with lead alloy plates and then sulfuric acid is added. This is a potent combination and sometimes things get a little exciting inside the battery. When this happens, some of the battery acid might bubble out as it boils over. This can happen because the battery is overcharging or there can be a problem elsewhere, like in the alternator. We can pinpoint the issue and fix it.
4. Cracks
Cracks anywhere in the exterior of the battery are a really bad sign. That means that the battery is not going to be able to contain the acid solution for much longer, which is a vital part of the battery’s operation. A cracked battery needs to be replaced immediately, and you may also want to make sure that other mechanical issues didn’t contribute to the battery cracking problem.
Problems with your car battery? We want to help here at J&M Auto Service in Tea, SD. Give us a call and we can take a closer look at your automobile’s battery. We’ll test it, too, to see if it’s still holding a normal charge. We’ll replace the battery if necessary.