Your car’s battery and alternator work in tandem to keep the electrical components in your car alive. Car batteries last about four years on average, which means they need to be replaced fairly regularly. If you can spot the signs that a battery is on its last legs, you’re more likely to avoid becoming stranded somewhere, unable to start your car. Here are five indications that you should visit your nearest Honda dealer for a new car battery sometime soon.
Does Your Honda Need a New Car Battery?
Faltering Electronics
A healthy battery should be able to power all of your car’s electrical components at the same time with ease. If you find that your headlights, air conditioner, stereo, power windows, or any other electrical part are dimming and faltering, your battery might be in trouble. This is especially the case when the engine’s off and your battery has to handle all the electronics on its own without the alternator’s help.
Engine Slow To Start
One of the most important tasks a car battery has is to send enough voltage to the starter to start your engine. If you notice a delay when you turn the key, your battery may be fading. It’s best to have it tested and possibly replaced before it fails to start your car altogether.
Visible Corrosion
You can visually inspect your battery for any signs of external damage. Pay particular attention to the metal terminal connectors at the top of the battery. If you see any sign of corrosion or rust on these connectors, the battery’s voltage will be negatively affected. Anything more than the mildest amount of corrosion usually means the battery needs to go.
Swollen Battery Casing
As car batteries age, they can sometimes start to overcharge, which creates an excessive internal buildup of heat and hydrogen gas. This expands and causes the battery casing to swell and distort. Excessively hot or cold climates can exacerbate this problem.
Once a battery casing has become malformed in this way, it’s no longer safe to use. You’ll need to have it replaced right away.
Rotten Egg Smell
When a battery casing bloats and swells out of shape, it can sometimes crack. This allows battery acid to escape, which has a distinct sulfur smell similar to that of rotten eggs. If you ever smell rotten eggs while driving, either your catalytic converter or your battery has a serious problem.
Ask Your Honda Dealer to Test Your Battery
A technician at your local dealership can quickly tell you if a battery is dying or your car has some other electrical problem. They can use a digital multimeter to test the voltage and also run other tests such as refractometer testing and conductance testing.
Have your battery examined or replaced today at Fischer Honda. We’ve been proudly providing excellent vehicles and customer service to the local drivers of Ypsilanti for 34 years.
Image by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay
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