Safety Tips
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Aug 9, 2019
5 Recognizable Signs Your Car Battery Is Dying
Safety Tips |Your car’s battery is essential to its function but won’t last forever. If you recognize these signs in your vehicle, your car battery is likely dying, and it’s time to swap it out with a new battery unit immediately.
Dim Headlights
If your car battery is nearing the end of its lifespan, it’ll typically manifest in dimmed or flickering headlights while driving. Your vehicle’s headlights need electrical power to illuminate the road. And if the battery is nearly out of juice or there’s a connection problem, you’ll have a noticeable difference in visibility.
If you see that your headlights are dim, you shouldn’t drive at night and should have the battery and headlights checked as soon as possible.
Miscellaneous Electrical Issues
The car’s battery is crucial to the function of many of your vehicle’s electrical components and features. So when the battery is nearing the end of its capability, it can cause various electrical issues in a car, such as:
- Sporadic radio sounds
- Blinking dashboard lights
- Not functioning electrical windows and sunroof
- Defunct cell phone charger
If your vehicle has only one of these issues, it could be an isolated problem. However, if you’re experiencing multiple or all of these problems, the source is likely the battery.
Corroded Terminals
Perhaps the most recognizable sign that your car battery is dying is a simple inspection of the battery and its terminals. The battery’s terminals are the components that connect to the battery cables, and if you spot corrosion on the connectors, it’s a clear sign to replace the battery.
Corrosion on the battery terminals will typically appear as a powdery, blue-green substance that has dried and corroded the terminals. For the health and safety of yourself and the vehicle, replace a corroded battery immediately.
Rotten Egg Smell
Have you noticed a funky, rotten egg smell coming from your car? It’s likely from the battery. When battery acid leaks, it can smell like sulfur or rotten eggs and be quite strong in the engine compartment.
If you open your engine hood and smell rotten eggs, take it into the shop for an inspection and battery replacement as soon as possible.
Ignition Clicks
Lastly, if your car battery is on its last legs, it’ll affect your engine’s starter and ability to turn over as it should. If you’ve noticed a clicking sound from your engine when you try to turn it over and it stutters, that’s a battery issue.
The clicking sound comes from the starter solenoid, which uses battery power to help the engine turn over. When it doesn’t get the power it needs, it’ll make a clicking sound while it stutters, so keep your ears open when you turn the key in the ignition.
We hope our list helps you see the next time your battery nears the end of its usefulness! Remember that RNR Tire Express is your source for tires in Tucson and other nationwide locations. Shop for new tires or schedule a service appointment with us online today.
