How Often To Replace Car Battery
The majority of car experts recommend replacing your car battery every 4-5 years. Of course, there are multiple factors that can affect the life of your vehicle’s battery. Let’s take a look at these factors below!
Signs You Need To Replace Car Battery
These are a few signs that your car battery is dying/dead and needs to be replaced:
- If your check engine light remains on, it means the ECU has read a voltage drop. The primary cause of this is a drained or dead battery.
- Flickering or dim headlights, taillights, dashboard lights, and other electrical issues within the vehicle.
- Trouble starting the vehicle when turning the ignition key or pressing the ignition button.
Causes Of Car Battery Deterioration
It’s no secret that battery deterioration or the rate of deterioration will impact how often you must replace the battery. These factors can shorten the battery’s lifespan.
- Loose hold-down clamps can cause vibrations, ultimately damaging the internal parts of the battery.
- Vehicles in warmer areas will see their battery wear out quicker due to the evaporation of liquids inside the battery.
- Leaving your lights on overnight can shorten the battery life.
- Natural deterioration occurs over time, so proper care is the best way to extend the lifespan.
How To Test A Car Battery
While the car professionals are always nearby to help, there are a few ways you can test a car battery yourself. You can use one of these methods to test your car battery.
Headlight Test:
- Start the engine while the car is in park with the headlights on.
- Rev the engine and check to see if the headlights change brightness.
- If the headlights get brighter while the car is idling, it means the battery is not strong enough to maintain normal headlight brightness.
Digital Multimeter Test:
- When testing your car battery with a voltmeter, set it to 20 DC volts.
- Lift your hood and touch the negative meter probe (colored black) to the negative terminal on your battery (also colored black).
- Next, touch the positive meter probe (red) to the positive terminal (red).
- Have a helper there to switch on the headlights while you check the voltmeter reading.
- A reading of 12.5 volts or more indicates that the battery is fully charged. 11.8 volts or less means the battery has under 25% life remaining.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Battery?
Average prices for a car battery replacement will range from $45-$250, according to Kelley Blue Book. Costs will depend on power, size, and overall quality of the battery. Contact the team at Automatic Transmission Exchange for more information today!
How Long Does It Take To Replace A Battery In A Car?
A simple car battery replacement will take between 30-60 minutes, depending on the type of vehicle. It’s recommended to set aside at least an hour if you plan to replace the battery as your next DIY project.
Roadside assistance services can also replace your battery quite quickly, if needed. As mentioned above, the average time it takes to complete this replacement is between 30-60 minutes.
Transmission Service, Repair, & Replacement Services in Phoenix, AZ
We offer a full range of auto transmission repair and replacement services from automatic transmission to manual transmission to the entire Phoenix Metro area.
*Disclaimer – This is not an actual quote. Your transmission repair or replacement cost could be different than the prices you see on this guide. The only way to get an actual estimate is by searching for transmission repair and replacement shops near you. Contact Automatic Transmission Exchange if you are in the Phoenix area and need transmission repair or replacement.