When Should You Replace Your Car’s Battery?

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Car batteries are good for three to five years. If you haven’t replaced your battery during this time, you may want to consider getting a new one. Many factors can affect the life span of your car battery. Batteries exposed to extreme heat or cold won’t last as long as those in moderate climates. Parking your vehicle in a garage and ensuring that you don’t leave the lights on when not needed can help extend battery life.

How To Know When It’s Time To Replace Your Battery

You can watch for several signs to determine when it may be time to replace your car battery. If you’re not sure whether your car needs a new battery, our service technicians can help you determine if your car problems are related to battery issues or something else entirely. Here are some tips to help you determine when it’s time to replace your vehicle’s battery:

• Starting issues: Trouble starting your car can be a good indicator that the battery is getting weak and it’s time to replace it.
• Jump-starting: A battery that requires jumper cables and another battery to start is probably not functioning properly. If you have to jump-start your car frequently, consider getting a new battery.
• Dim lights: Monitor the lights inside your vehicle for signs that it needs a new battery. If the dash, map, or other lights dim when you’re using the heat or air conditioning, it’s likely time for a battery replacement.
• Alternator problems: Your alternator recharges your car battery by converting energy from the engine into electrical energy. If you experience problems with your alternator or the belts that drive it, your car may need a service or battery replacement.
• Bad smell: Car batteries contain sulfuric acid, and over time, this chemical can emit a smell that indicates the battery is old. If you notice a bad smell or liquid coming from the battery, don’t wait to replace it, as this is a fire hazard that can lead to more serious issues.
• Bulging case: The battery in your car is protected by a case that keeps the cells in place and helps prevent electrical problems. A bulging battery case means the cells are swollen because it gets too hot or cold. This can be dangerous, and you should address the problem immediately.

How Often Should You Service Your Battery

While you’ll likely need to replace your car’s battery every three to five years, you can service your battery regularly to ensure it lasts as long as possible. Here are some actions you can take to help your car battery work well and last longer:

• Clean the battery terminals once or twice a year.
• Keep your car out of extreme heat and cold.
• Don’t let the battery drain completely.
• Drive your car at least once a week.
• Get your car up to a speed of at least 55 mph regularly.
• Check the connections on your battery frequently to ensure nothing is loose.
• Disconnect the battery and store it in a moderate temperature if you aren’t going to drive it for more than a week.

How To Jump-Start Your Car’s Battery

Giving your car a jump-start may be necessary if you accidentally leave the lights on or forget to turn the engine off and leave the keys in the ignition too long. Although you should try to avoid jump-starting your car, you can do the following if it’s necessary:

• Park another vehicle with a full battery within easy reach of your car’s battery, typically hood-to-hood, but not always.
• Look at the battery or consult your owner’s manual to locate the battery terminals. There are two: a positive and a negative.
• Take out your jumper cables, which have two clamps on each side. These clamps are black and red.
• Attach one red clamp to the positive terminal on the dead battery. Make sure you don’t touch any metal parts while you’re attaching the clamps.
• Attach the other red clamp to the positive terminal on the fully charged battery of the other vehicle. This vehicle doesn’t need to be on.
• Attach the black clamp to the negative terminal on the fully charged battery of the other vehicle.
• Attach the other black clamp to an unpainted metal part of the car with the dead battery. Leave the clamps connected to both vehicles for several minutes, then try to start the car with the dead battery.
• If the car starts, you can disconnect the cables. If the engine tries to turn over and fails, you can start the other vehicle to help speed up the charging process.

After disconnecting the cables from the jumped vehicle, it’s important to leave the engine running and drive the vehicle around for at least 20 minutes to fully recharge the battery.

Get Your Battery Serviced or Replaced at Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City

At Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we’ll take care of all your car servicing needs. You can bring your car to us for battery service or replacement at any time that’s convenient for you. Contact our team today to schedule your next service appointment. Don’t let battery problems become more serious issues. Let us take care of your car.