Your car's battery is essential, as short of a jump start, it's the only way to start your engine. The battery will fail in time, and you'll need a new car battery. As your Ford dealer in Conway, SC, we can easily fit a replacement for you when you need it. These are some signs that your battery could be failing.
Your Battery Is Old
A car battery has a limited lifespan. In the life of your car, you'll replace the battery every three to five years. This replacement is necessary as the chemical reactions that enable your battery to store and supply electricity will eventually destroy it. Your battery contains a variety of chemicals, including sulfuric acid. As time passes, sulfuric acid slowly breaks down.
Sulfuric acid releases hydrogen gas as part of the breakdown process. Hydrogen can escape the battery casing and mix with other chemicals in the air. This will produce corrosion on the outside of the battery which further weakens it. If your battery is at least three years old, we advise having your battery checked to ensure it's still working correctly. If your battery fails our tests, we can replace it for you.
Damaged Alternator
As we've seen, your battery doesn't produce electricity: it just stores it. This power is used to start your engine and to maintain your car's electrical systems when the engine is switched off. The electricity used by the battery needs to be replaced, and that's where your alternator comes in. The alternator will recharge your battery as soon as the engine starts.
A worn alternator, however, changes this situation dramatically. If your alternator is failing, it won't be able to provide enough power to recharge your battery. Each time the battery is used, less power will be available to recharge it. Your battery will soon run out of energy and fail. Our technicians can test your alternator and replace it with a new one to fix the problem.
Distorted Battery Case
A car battery is usually rectangular, but you can also get square batteries. Extreme heat and cold can cause problems with your battery's internal structure. Heat or cold can alter the electrolyte balance inside the battery, and pressure will build up inside it. Since your battery casing is sealed, these pressures can cause the battery casing to bulge out.
If you pop the hood and your battery looks even slightly distorted, that battery has failed. A distorted battery can't be fixed, but we can replace it for you.
A dead battery could leave you stranded. If you see any signs your battery is failing, call us right away at Conway Ford.
