Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Did you know that 70 percent of vehicle batteries don’t last longer than four years? However, unless you drive a hybrid or electric vehicle, your car battery could last as long as eight years with proper care and a watchful eye.
Let’s examine some common causes of a faulty car battery, factors to consider when seeking a replacement battery, and measures you can take to extend the life of your vehicle’s battery.
Transcript
You’re going to be so charged up from watching this video because it’s electrifying. Hi, I’m Nancy at Kneble’s Auto Service Center. Do you know that 70% of vehicle batteries don’t last past four years? Unless you have an electric or hybrid vehicle, your battery can last up to eight years. This means over the life of owning your vehicle, you’re purchasing one or two batteries. Now batteries are maintenance-free, but be proactive. Has your battery tested annually? We do it for free because there is nothing worse than being late for an appointment because your car doesn’t start. Or really importantly, having that ice cream not melt after you go to the supermarket and being stuck in the car because the car doesn’t start. There are some things you can do to extend the life of the battery. You can check your battery terminals, make sure they’re free of corrosion and tight on the battery.
The battery cables that are connected to the terminals, make sure there’s no corrosion on them and they’re not loose. Now the battery can be discharged over the grime on the top of the battery casing. So when you go to clean your battery, remember the battery has sulfuric acid in it, so you don’t want the corrosion to touch your skin. If you’re running the accessories or lights on your car without the vehicle running, you’re running down the battery, which is not good for it. And quick short trips all the time in your vehicle don’t allow the battery to be fully charged as it takes an alternator about 20 minutes to charge your battery. Now when you go to buy the battery that you so need, check your owner’s manual. The manufacturer has determined the group that is appropriate for your vehicle. The group refers to the dimensions of the battery, the size, their different sizes.
You want to have the appropriate size fit snugly in your battery tray. Also, know that batteries have dates on them when they’re manufactured, so you don’t want to be buying an old battery that has been sitting on the shelf. The other thing to know is batteries have what they called CCA. That stands for cold cranking amps. That’s how much energy it takes to start your vehicle in zero degrees for 30 seconds. Now, remember the ambient temperature also can be a factor. This battery is an MTP. That’s a Mega-Tron plus, that has higher cold-cranking amps. But check your owner’s manual, make sure you find the appropriate battery for your vehicle.
Batteries also have warranties. These are a factor with the price. Warranties on batteries can be something like 24/60. Now the 24 signifies that for the first 24 months if you have a problem with your battery, it will be a free replacement, and the 60 signifies the battery will last for 60 months or five years. That’s the warranty. So check the owner’s manual, buy the right size battery, and happy to charge that battery. Keep the car running. I hope you enjoy the video. Press the like button, share the information, press the share button, and if you have any comments or questions below, put them in the common section. This is not a paid advertisement from Interstate. Thank you for watching.
Common Causes of a Faulty Car Battery
There are many reasons why a car battery can die prematurely, with human error accounting for some issues and others being almost completely out of your control. Here are some of the most common culprits we’ve seen in vehicles with batteries that died too soon:
Bad Alternator Diode
The alternator charges your car’s battery, so a bad alternator diode can lead to a number of issues from dim lighting to an unexpected dead battery. If you notice your car’s battery light is on (similar to the gas light), this may mean you have a bad alternator diode.
Extreme Heat or Cold
You may have experienced this before with cold weather if you’re located in or near Atlantic County, NJ, like us, or maybe even hot weather if you’ve lived somewhere else. Temperatures above 100 degrees and below 10 degrees fahrenheit can result in buildup of sulfate crystals, which can significantly impact the longevity of a car battery.
Too Many Short Drives
It takes about 20 minutes for your alternator to charge the battery in your car, so too many short trips in the vehicle could drain the battery without ever giving it a chance to charge fully.
Loose or Corroded Battery Cables
When battery cables become loose or corroded, the flow of electricity to the vehicle is interrupted, resulting in issues with lights, electronic displays, and potentially even a sudden loss of vehicle power while on the road.
Old Age
This is one of those factors that’s mostly out of your control — all car batteries die eventually. However, there are some measures you can take to extend the life of your battery.
How to Extend Your Car’s Battery Life
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to improve your car battery’s longevity:
- Check battery terminals for corrosion
- Check cables for corrosion
- Avoid using electronics when the car isn’t running
- Avoid short trips less than 20 minutes
- Get annual battery testing — free at Kneble’s Auto!
Next, let’s review some factors to consider when seeking a replacement battery for your car.
Finding a Suitable Replacement Battery
Before you pull the trigger on purchasing a new car battery, you must be certain that the battery is an appropriate fit for your vehicle, budget, and driving habits. Some factors to consider are:
- Make sure it fits in the battery tray.
- Manufacturing date — don’t buy an old battery.
- Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) — get higher CCA if you live in a very cold area.
- Warranty — a new car battery should be free to replace for the first couple of years.
Not sure if your car battery is nearing the end of its life? Kneble’s Auto Service Center can provide the answers you need at our shop in Mays Landing, New Jersey!
Get a Free Battery Check at Kneble’s Auto Service Center
Has it been a while since you last had your car battery checked, or are you worried that there may be electrical issues occurring in your vehicle? Schedule a free battery check at Kneble’s Auto and rest assured that you’re staying on top of this key aspect of vehicle maintenance!
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