Battery trouble can very quickly leave you stranded and that’s something that you definitely want to avoid. Here’s what Professional Automotive Services wants you to know about spotting battery trouble in your car.
The Battery Has Some Age on It
Older batteries don’t hold a charge, as well as brand-new batteries, do. Typically a battery has a lifespan of around three to five years, depending on a variety of factors. If you’re not sure how old your battery is, there are some ways that you can figure that out. Try to determine if the battery seems to be the original battery. Often you can find a sticker somewhere on the top of the battery that includes the date that it was installed. If you find that date and it’s been a while, your battery is probably too old.
The Exterior of the Battery Looks Bad
You can tell a lot about the battery’s health by how it looks. If the posts have powdery corrosion on and around them or the battery case itself looks bowed out, there’s a high possibility that the battery is going bad. This is even more true if you see cracks in the exterior case of the battery.
You’re Having Trouble with Electrical Devices
If you’re not able to power on accessories within the car, that’s another sign that you’ve got problems somewhere either with the battery or with the electrical system. You might think that because other parts of the car are working properly that the battery couldn’t possibly be the culprit. But the truth is that if there’s anything wrong with the battery, that affects other electrical parts as well.
You’re Seeing a Dashboard Warning Light
Your car has a few ways to try to warn you that there’s something wrong with the battery. The first few warning signs might seem pretty subtle, but if you get a dashboard warning light, make sure that you pay attention. Dashboard warning lights are almost never a false alarm. For your battery, you might see a battery-shaped light or the word GEN or ALT.
If you want to make certain whether your battery is having issues or not, we can test it for you. Give us a call at Professional Automotive Services in Greenwood, SC. We will thoroughly test your car’s battery and the rest of the electrical system to make sure that we understand the problem. From there, we’ll help you to find the right solution.
