What is the right time to get your car battery replaced?

A car battery is the most vital component in the car as it plays an instrumental role in keeping the vehicle operational. The battery also regulates the voltage to ensure that all the electrical components in the car remain undamaged in case of voltage fluctuations.

The important question is ‘How long does a car battery last? Though its life span depends on the way the car is driven, the ideal life span of a car battery normally varies from 4 to 7 years. If the battery is damaged (or non-functional), it can jeopardize the car and create emergencies on the road.

These are indicators that your car battery needs a replacement. Let’s look at when is the ‘ideal’ time to get the battery replaced.

What causes deterioration of the car battery

Multiple factors affect the life of the car battery. Rapid draining or discharging of the car battery is one of the prime causes of its deterioration.

Here are the other prominent reasons behind the battery’s deterioration:

• Hot climatic condition results in rapid draining of the car battery
• Battery size matters a lot. A smaller battery size throws a huge load on the startup process of the engine. The huge load can harm the battery.
• A cold start is extremely bad for a car battery, as the car consumes more current when the engine is cold.
• Moisture can lead to short circuits in the car. It also causes the formation of corrosion on the nodes and connectors.
• Prolonged use of AC, headlights, horn, etc. when the car engine is off drains the battery much faster.
• Faulty wiring results in the leakage of battery current which in turn drains the battery at a rapid pace.
• Frequent start and stop operations of the car engine put a lot of load on the battery. High peaks of current consumption during the start & stop process can drain the battery much faster.

When driving the car, it is essential to keep a tab on these pointers as it can help in elongating the life of the car battery.

Primary causes of damage to the Car Battery

When the battery is damaged, it shows visible signs of leakage, swelling, bloating, and more. These are indicators that the life of the car battery is headed downhill. The first signs of a damaged battery will show up when you start the car. With a worn-out car battery, starting up the car either fails or it might take an ample amount of time to start the vehicle.

Your car will also show relevant signs that indicate the deterioration of the car battery. Some of the noticeable signs are below:

• Ignition resulting in flickering or dimming of the car lights
• Dimming of the dashboard lights
• Power windows either become slow or completely stop working
• Formation of corrosion or oxidation on the battery node
• Deterioration of performance when the stereo or air conditioning is turned on
• The engine starts to crank slowly

In case your car’s dashboard has a battery indicator, it might light up if the car battery is in a damaged condition.

On witnessing any of the indicators mentioned above, you should opt for the replacement of the car battery. Ignoring the glaring issues in the battery can damage the engine. In worst scenarios, it can be hazardous to the lives of the occupants in the car.

How to replace a damaged car battery

As the battery is the heart of the car, it is important to perform regular maintenance so that you can keep emergency situations at bay. In non- avoidable scenarios, you would need to replace the battery. As car batteries play a pivotal role in the functioning of the car, you should opt for trusted professionals when it comes to battery replacement.

AIS Windshield Experts have skilled technicians that have immense experience as far as replacing damaged batteries is concerned. They recommend the highest quality batteries from globally recognized manufacturers like Amaron and Exide. The team at AIS Windshield Experts can recommend you the best products for all the electrical units in the car.

With AIS Windshield Experts, car battery replacement is just a click or call away!