Car batteries usually need to be replaced every three to four years. Once your battery passes the three-year mark, it’s wise to keep an eye out for the following signs of trouble. If you suspect your battery is starting to fail, head straight to your local Chevy dealer for a new car battery before your vehicle runs into serious electrical problems.
Does Your Chevy Need a New Car Battery?
Clear Warping in the Battery’s Casing
Car batteries should always have perfectly straight sides and angles. If you pop the hood to inspect your battery and find that its sides are warping or bulging out of shape, you should have it replaced at once.
Cracked and Leaking Battery Casing
If a car battery grows old or becomes severely damaged by vibrations, changes in temperature, or internal electrical shorts, it may crack and start to leak battery acid. In this case, you might smell something like rotten eggs. A leaking battery must go.
White or Green Corrosion on the Terminals
Battery terminals can start corroding over time. If you notice a small amount of white-green corrosion building up on your battery’s connectors, you might be able to clean it away with a dry rag or toothbrush and a good cleaning product. However, if corrosion becomes extensive, it prevents the battery from conducting electricity properly and means the battery needs to be replaced.
Engine Becomes Reluctant to Start
An aging or damaged battery will often struggle to start the car in the morning. Consider replacing your battery as soon as you notice this problem. Otherwise, you might find yourself stranded somewhere, unable to start your engine at all.
Several Electronics Start Misbehaving
The battery is responsible for powering all your car’s electronics, including the dashboard and external lights. If you notice various electronic components acting strangely at the same time, the fault may lie with the underlying electrical supply: the battery.
In many modern vehicles, there’s a prioritization system when it comes to failing electrical supply. This means the non-essential accessories, such as phone chargers and heated seats, are likely to fail before the vital components like the headlights and spark plugs.
Chevy Dealer Suggests Replacing the Battery
It’s advisable to have your car’s electrical system carefully inspected and serviced by qualified technicians at least twice a year. This becomes especially important when your battery is over three years of age. Experienced technicians can thoroughly test your system and battery and repair any problems long before these faults cause you problems on the road.
Have your car’s battery inspected and replaced today at Cheraw Chevrolet. We’re a local full-service dealership that provides a terrific range of new and used vehicles along with attentive, courteous, highly personalized customer service.
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