Car Battery life: When is it time for a change?
Car batteries are one of the most important components of any vehicle, yet for some reason, they are often overlooked. Your car needs the electrical charge it gets from the battery to start the engine, which is why you should always be aware of the age and status of the battery in your vehicle. It can be a major inconvenience if you go to start your car one day only to find that the old battery has lost its charge. To help you avoid this issue, and to get the most out of your battery during its natural lifespan, take a look at some of the guidelines below that will help you determine when it is time to change your old car battery.
Average Battery Lifespan
To get started, let’s think about how long a brand new car battery will last under typical driving conditions in a city like Vancouver. There are many factors that affect the amount of time your automobile battery will function efficiently. Weather can have a big impact, especially cold temperatures. The power demands you place on a battery will also have an impact on how long the unit will last.
In ideal conditions, a battery can last more than five years. Unfortunately, ideal conditions for a battery are not exactly common in a place like Vancouver, which sees a significant amount of precipitation, as well as hot and somewhat cold weather each year. Also, with the increasing number of electronics owned by a typical person, and the corresponding chargers, cables and devices that connect to a car’s electrical system, the average driver asks more of their car battery than ever before. With these factors in mind, you shouldn’t be surprised if your battery doesn’t last longer than three years. There really is no exact amount of years that a car battery is guaranteed to last, so let’s say the average lifespan in a city like Vancouver could be between three and five years.
When to Change?
There are a few telltale signs that indicate your battery is nearing the end of its lifespan. For the most part, if you check your car battery every six months or so, you should avoid any unwanted surprises or startup issues. If during your check you notice a bad smell coming from the battery that reminds you of rotten eggs, you should start looking for a replacement right away. You should also keep an eye on the regular electrical components of your vehicle such as interior lighting and headlights. If these lights flicker for any reason while you’re driving, idling or starting your car, that is also a good sign your car battery is near the end of its lifespan. You should also make more frequent checks if your car battery is more than three years old, especially if, as discussed above, you live in an area that sees high temperatures in the summer and significantly low temperatures in the winter. One final indicator that your battery needs to be changed is the battery light on your vehicle’s dashboard. When this light starts to appear on a regular basis, regardless of how old your battery happens to be, you should take a look and consider a replacement as soon as possible.
For more helpful tips about car batteries, or if you have any inquiries about other battery products, be sure to visit the experts at Polar Battery today!
