6 Common Signs You May Need a New Car Battery

Every car needs a battery. It helps to keep the electronic features and systems powered up, while also helping the engine to ignite and operate correctly too. However, batteries don’t last forever. They wear down and run out of power over time, and it’s important to know some of the key signs to look out for when you might need a new car battery in Liberty, MO.

1. Warning Lights on the Dashboard

Let’s start off with one of the simplest warning signs of them all: the warning light. Various lights can appear on your dashboard as issues arise with your vehicle, and if you spot one shaped like a battery, it’s highly likely that your car’s battery is beginning to fail.

2. Faulty Headlights

Another very obvious sign that something might be wrong with your car’s battery is when the headlights start to flicker or behave strangely. Battery power keeps the lights up and running, but if the battery is low on juice, the lights might start to appear dimmer and less effective than usual, which can be very dangerous when driving at night or in dimly lit areas.

3. Electronic Issues

The headlights are just one of many electrical systems and features found throughout your vehicle, and all of those different features can start to struggle when the battery is on the way out. You might notice all kinds of problems, from stuttering power windows to stuck sunroofs, slow charging USB ports, or heated seats that fail to heat up.

4. Engine Trouble

As stated earlier, your car’s battery also helps to get the engine fired up. So, when the battery is on its last legs, the engine can behave a little unpredictably as well. You might find that you simply hear a clicking noise when turning the key, for example, or it might just take a little longer than normal for the engine to start up.

5. Swollen or Misshapen Case

If you want to check up on your battery’s health now and then, try lifting the hood and taking a look at it. Healthy batteries should be rectangular, with straight edges and no visible issues, but unhealthy batteries can start to swell or appear misshapen.

6. Corrosion

As well as looking for swelling, be sure to visually inspect your battery on a regular basis for any signs of corrosion too. Corrosion will occur if the battery acid begins to leak out of the case, and it can do serious damage, not only to the battery itself but to other components under the hood. You can easily spot corrosion by the appearance of a blue or grayish powdery-like substance around the connectors.

It’s never a good idea to drive around with a bad battery, and as soon as you spot any of the issues listed above, it’s vital to get a battery replacement as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the bigger the issues will become, and if you wait too long, your car could become completely unresponsive. Contact Heartland Chevrolet today to order essential auto services, repairs, and replacement batteries.

Image courtesy of chevrolet.com

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