Signs that You Might Need a New Car Battery

Plenty of us have been in a situation when our cars won’t start. In some of these cases this is due to the battery. The battery is necessary for the car to start because “when you start up a car’s engine, the sole source for the spark that ignites the gasoline and air mixture in the engine comes from the car’s battery,” according to eHow. There are ways to tell if you need to replace your battery before it comes to the point that it needs to be jumped or is completely drained.

Signs that You Need a New Car Battery

There are several ways to tell if your battery is about to go. Here are a few of them:

• Car has trouble starting
• Dimming headlights
• Electronic accessories that operate slower than usual
• Dashboard indicator
• Bench testing

If you are starting your car and it takes a few tries to get it started, it may be time for a new car battery or have it serviced. “If nothing but a rapid clicking noise is heard when the key is turned to start, the battery is critically low,” according to eHow. Dimming headlights are another telltale sign. If the headlights fade as the car is started, or fade shortly after the car is started, the battery is dying. This is true for the electrical accessories as well. If the interior lights are dim, the radio has trouble functioning, or the power windows are sluggish, your battery may be on its way out and it’s time for a new car battery.
Related: What Affects a Car’s Battery Life?
Some cars will indicate on the dashboard that the battery is starting to go. An ammeter reading shows how much charge is left in the battery. Not all vehicles have this reading, but it displays on the dash and reads like a fuel gauge. Bench testing is another option and can be performed at auto parts stores and service centers. A bench test indicates how much useful battery life is left and can be an early indication that you need to replace your battery.
Visit Fisher Auto in Boulder, Colo., for all of your car battery needs. We can service and replace batteries. Call us at 303-245-6414 with your questions and to schedule a service appointment.