If your vehicle’s electronics are faltering, then your car battery might be on its last legs. Let’s take a look at seven noticeable signs of a failing battery. You can have a new car battery installed at once at your local Mazda dealership. Let’s check out seven signs your Mazda might need a new car battery.
1. Fading Headlights
Headlights are essential for safe driving after dark. If your car battery is struggling to hold or deliver a full charge, you may find your headlights dimming, especially when the engine’s idling.
They might become brighter when you accelerate, which allows the alternator to send more power to the dying battery. But as the battery continues to weaken, your headlights will eventually fail altogether.
2. Slow Engine Starts
One of the most frustrating results of a bad car battery is the engine failing to start. Before the problem develops to this stage, your engine will probably become slower to turn over. This is a sign that it’s time to have your car battery tested or replaced.
3. Fading Dashboard Lights
Given how important the dashboard is in modern cars, it can be disconcerting to find the dashboard lights and dials flickering. If your dashboard lights start to flicker or fade, the battery may well be to blame.
4. Multiple Electronics Slowing
All the electronic components of your vehicle depend on the battery for power, especially when the engine isn’t running. If you find more than one electronic accessory slowing down or malfunctioning at the same time, you may need a new battery.
5. Leaking Battery Acid
When a car battery becomes damaged by age, vibrations, internal shorts, or corrosion, it might crack open and start to leak. Battery acid produces a strong and unpleasant sulfur smell that you’re likely to detect from within the cabin. A leaking battery always has to go.
6. Warped Chassis or Corroded Terminals
If you pop the hood and look at your battery, you’ll see what kind of shape it’s in. Aging or damaged batteries sometimes begin to warp and become malformed and sometimes corrosion can build up on the terminals. Any such damage usually means the battery needs to be replaced.
7. Aging Battery
Most car batteries have a lifespan of about three to five years. This may vary depending on your driving habits. It’s wise to start checking your battery more frequently after the three-year mark. Once a battery reaches five years of age, it’s usually time for a new one.
Have Your Battery Tested at Your Local Mazda Dealer
If you’re unsure of the condition of your current car battery, you can have it examined and tested at your local dealership. A trusted technician can quickly test the voltage with a multimeter and let you know whether or not you need a new one.
Visit Auffenberg Mazda of O’Fallon today in Shiloh, IL, to have your car battery checked or replaced. We’re a full-service dealership offering great deals and customer service to the region’s drivers.
