Battery problems are a big deal because your car needs a functioning alternator and battery to run properly. Here’s some information from Davis & Clark Auto Repair that can help you to recognize potential battery issues.
Try Starting the Car
The most obvious way to tell you’ve got a problem with your car’s battery is to try to start the car. If the car is hard to start but eventually does start, you need to have it tested right away. If the car doesn’t start at all but you can jumpstart it, you also need to have the battery tested right away. Waiting to do this may mean that you end up killing the battery completely.
Check the Age of the Battery
Lots of car parts have an upper age limit, like tires. Your car’s battery does, too. Very often battery manufacturers put the battery’s date on the top of the battery, so that’s a good place to look. If you know when you replaced the battery, or you know that it was brand new with the car, then that can help you to determine how old the battery is. If it’s older than about four years old, your battery may be getting too old.
Look at the Battery Itself
While you’re in there looking for the battery’s age, really look at the exterior of the battery itself. Is the case squared off or is it bulging? Do you see any cracks or signs of damage to the battery? Do you see corrosion or anything that doesn’t look right? If so, it could be a sign of what’s going on with the battery.
Plug In Some Accessories
Another option is to try plugging some accessories into the accessory outlet. Take something that you know works, like a car phone charger that works in another vehicle, and plug it in. If it doesn’t work, it may be overtaxing the battery. Something else that you can try is to turn a few different things on, like the heater, the radio, and the lights, and try plugging in an accessory to see if it works. If it doesn’t, the battery may be having issues.
Need to have your battery, alternator, or electrical system tested? Give us a call at Davis & Clark Auto Repair in Bend, OR. We’ll help you to figure out what’s going on so that you get the right solution in place.
