Check on Your Car Battery This Winter Before It’s Too Late

Automotive batteries are your car’s powerhouse. They are responsible for the regular functioning of all electrical equipment installed in your vehicle. Their limited lifespan, however, can become a problem if you are not aware of their imminent death.

Why Do Car Batteries Die?

Almost all automotive batteries have an electrolyte and some electrodes. On receiving the required signal from a car’s engine, the chemical energy stored in the electrolyte gets converted to electrical energy which in turn powers the engine.

Battery death can happen due to several reasons, including discharge, physical damage, temperature fluctuations or regular wear and tear. Corrosion of electrodes and electrolyte depletion are two other reasons for battery death.

Outside weather also plays a key role in the performance of your car's battery. While summers can be harsh on your battery's electrolyte, winters can make the chemical reactions slower and cause the battery to discharge frequently. After every season, you need to perform some necessary checks on your battery to know its health. Before winter especially, your battery is recovering from the harsh effects of summer and could use a thorough inspection.

How to Check Car Battery

While car batteries have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years, usually, it is difficult to predict precisely when you will need a car battery change service. There are a few common signs of battery death that can warn you about your automotive battery’s imminent death and save you from being stuck in the middle of nowhere on a cold winter night. They are as follows -

Flickering or Dim Headlights

The automotive battery is responsible for powering up headlights, rear lights and all interior lights of a car. When your car battery is heading towards death, it will not be able to power up these lights sufficiently. As a result, you might notice a little flickering of the headlights while revving up your car’s engine. Sometimes, a visible decrease in their brightness as they stay on for long is also indicative of battery failure and warrants car battery replacement.

Slow-Cranking Engine

Your vehicle’s engine does not start on its own. It requires a certain amount of electrical power during start-up. This power is typically supplied by your car’s battery. As your car battery ages, it weakens and is unable to provide the desired amount of energy to the engine. While starting up such a car, you will notice slow cranks of the engine. While long parking hours and cold climate can also cause slow cranks, it is a good idea to have your battery checked and if needs be, opt for a car battery replacement if you notice a slow-cranking engine.

Clicking Sounds

An automotive battery sends some amount of power to your car’s starter solenoid as you try to turn on the engine. The starter solenoid later converts this power into the form of energy that the engine requires and assists in startup. In case of a defective car battery, the starter solenoid does not receive the necessary power to get the engine running. In such cases, the production of clicking sounds as you turn your key into the ignition is widespread. Any unusual clicking sounds during engine start-up should not be ignored.

Backfiring

Your vehicle’s fuel cylinder might experience intermittent sparks from a defective car battery. These sparks can later lead to fuel accumulation within the cylinder. As you turn the ignition on, the accumulated fuel burns suddenly and causes backfiring. However, you must always remember that backfiring is a severe sign of damage to several other parts of your car and should not be ignored.

Frequent Jumpstarts

As winter knocks on your door, you might notice your car not starting even after repeated attempts. Many drivers dismiss this as a regular phenomenon of cold weather. However, if your car requires a jumpstart every morning, it probably has a dying battery and needs a car battery change service.

Corrosion

One of the most apparent and common signs of battery damage, corrosion, is often noticed at the connecting terminals of your vehicle’s battery. It manifests in the form of a bluish-green deposit, a white powdery coating or a clear film. Cleaning the corroded terminals is a temporary solution, but with excessively aged batteries, cleaning or greasing rarely works.

Physical Damage

Weak or aged cells experience frequent discharge, especially during winters. Due to this, temperature fluctuations occur within the battery and cause it to swell eventually. A swollen battery case is fatal to your car and indicative of battery failure.

Other visible damage such as scratches on the battery case also indicates battery damage.

If you notice any of these signs while checking your battery just before winter, do not wait for the season to end. Get a battery check and replacement done before winter descends to avoid a hassle in the cold.

At AIS Windshield Experts, we offer world-class car battery replacement services. Our professionals observe recommended safety standards and use only Amaron and Exide batteries for your vehicle. Our highly-trained professionals ensure international-safety standards while carrying out battery check and replacement. We offer doorstep services to maximise your convenience. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today!