The shelf life of even an inexpensive car battery is from 5 years, but most drivers wear it out in a maximum of three years. There are many reasons - sharp driving style, frequent attempts to start the engine in the cold, improper and untimely maintenance. A worn out battery can cause the car to stall suddenly in the middle of the road. If the driver is unlucky, a faulty battery will disable the on-board electronics altogether. To prevent this from happening, it is important to understand in time that it is time to change the car battery. How to recognize battery wear at home, we tell below.
The main signs of car battery wear
Even an inexperienced driver can understand that the battery is failing by the following signs:
- The engine does not start. Moreover, the engine does not want to work even in warm weather, not to mention frost. If the motor comes to life only after 2-3 attempts, this is also considered.
- The engine starts, but often stalls. If the reason is definitely not in the inexperience of the driver or problems with the manual transmission, it is worth taking a closer look at the battery.
- The electricity goes out while the starter is running. The relationship is obvious: the power of a worn-out battery is simply not enough to request the motor and the instrument panel at the same time.
- A low battery warning pops up. Moreover, the information appears even if the battery was charged literally a couple of days ago.
- Terminals give the minimum permissible voltage. You can check this with an ordinary multimeter. Recommended open circuit readings are around 12.6V. If the voltage is lower, it's time to look for new car batteries.
- The battery emits an unpleasant smell. Battery wear is indicated by an excessively concentrated acidic aroma that gives off something burnt. Replacement in this case is required immediately.
- The body is damaged. Safety regulations forbid operating a car battery when small deformations are detected on the surface. Changes in the housing often indicate freezing of the electrolyte, which is unacceptable. It is impossible to defrost and operate the battery further.
- Fast battery discharge. For example, after an hour of listening to music with the engine turned off, the car is no longer able to start. A low level of energy reserve is a clear opportunity to update the battery.
- Diluted state of the electrolyte. The recommended minimum content density is 1.25. If the required numbers do not appear even after the night spent charging the battery, it is worth admitting that the battery life is running out.
- The difference in the density of the electrolyte. If the content has a different structure in several compartments, it is worth, at least, to show such a battery to an electrician.
Let's summarize
Driving with a faulty battery leads to road accidents, unforeseen situations on the road and damage to the electronic components of the vehicle. The driver should monitor the condition of the battery in accordance with the recommendations listed above, follow simple care rules, and not operate the battery after the expiration date.
