Car Battery Replacement & Maintenance
How A Car Battery Works
Your car battery may be small, but the power it provides is huge. Your car battery does more than provide the jolt of electricity required to power all of the car’s electrical components. It performs two essential functions:
- Gets your car going
Your car battery delivers voltage to the starter by converting chemical energy into electrical energy. This gives your car the power it needs to start.
- Keeps things going
In addition to delivering the required energy to start your car, the battery also provides a steady stream of voltage (energy) to keep your engine running throughout your drive.
When Should A Car Battery Be Replaced?
On average, a car battery remains reliable for about four years, but there are several factors that can lead to shorter or longer lifespans. Age, under-hood temperatures, vehicle vibrations, and extreme cold and hot climate conditions damage the internal components of a battery, limiting its life expectancy. Even under the most ideal conditions, chemical reactions cause batteries to break down, and your vehicle will likely need a new battery within a few years.
If your car battery is three or more years old, have it tested at your nearest Kwik Kar location. We will let you know if it is time to replace your old car battery. We recommend you have your battery checked every six months.
Signs You Need A New Car Battery
- Your car won’t start and you need a jump-start it to get it running
- You notice the engine struggling to turn over upon ignition
- You see a new indicator light illuminated on your dashboard
- Some of your electrical components aren’t working (power windows, radio, wipers, dashboard lights, headlights, etc.)
- Your headlights dim when you turn on your heater
- Your battery is over four years old
- You smell a rotten egg-like scent coming from under the hood
- The car battery itself seems swollen
- You see white, blue, or orange fuzz forming around your battery
