When to Replace Your Battery

Often times, we wait until it’s too late to replace our vehicles’ batteries. Don’t feel bad. It happens to the best of us, because it’s difficult to predict when they’ll kick the can, but you can rest assured they’ll never fail to fail—and they don’t tend to go out at convenient times. You probably know this fact firsthand.

But we’re here to go over the basics about car batteries so you’ll know when it’s time to take your car in for a replacement, and (hopefully) never again be stranded because yours died unexpectedly.

Our auto repair shop serves car owners from Fallsington, PA, to Yardley and other points throughout Bucks County. If you’re in the area, read on to learn more, then give us a call if you think it’s time for a battery replacement!

What’s a Battery’s Average Lifespan?

Rarely do batteries last longer than 6 years. We recommend replacements every 5 years.

Warning Signs

If your battery is still working, but you’re close to that 5-6 year mark, these warning signs will tell you that it’s in your best interest to come in for a replacement.

 

• Sporadic Issues With Starting — If your car starts fine today, then tomorrow it won’t start, then Wednesday it starts up again, and by Friday it’s back to nothing… does that sound familiar? If the cables aren’t loose, it’s most likely time for a new battery.

• Cold Cranking Is Tough — The first time you start your engine for the day is referred to as cold cranking. If it takes a few tries to get the engine going on the cold crank, there’s a good chance your battery is on the verge of failure.

• Check Engine Light — The check engine light will come on when one of many scenarios occur, one of which being your battery on the brink of failure. No matter the issue, a check engine light is not something to ignore. If yours comes on, make an appointment to have your vehicle inspected immediately.

 

Repercussions of a Failing Battery

If your battery is failing but not yet dead, it’s undoubtedly affecting other components of your vehicle. Remember this: A car that won’t start when you need it to can cost far more than the price of a battery.

• Malfunctioning batteries will cause the starter and alternator to overheat, leading to permanent failure.
• Replacing at failure is NOT a smart maintenance strategy. Like most other things in life, try to be proactive. Your car’s health will thank you!

Think it’s about time to replace your battery? Come by our Yardley, PA auto repair shop and we’ll get you squared away with a brand new one. See you soon!