Have Your Car’s Battery Checked Before It’s Too Late
Do You Need to Get a New Car Battery in the Spring?
Your car, truck or SUV might be powered by a gasoline or diesel engine, but that engine isn’t worth much without a battery to turn over the starter motor to bring it to life. The technology used by automotive batteries is more advanced than ever, but the fact remains cold weather is very hard on these components. So, do you need to get a new car battery in the spring? Well, maybe. There are several factors that go into determining if you need a new battery or not. If you’re unsure, you can always stop by the Budds’ Chev Service Department, and we’ll test it. Let’s take a look at a few things you should know.
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What Happens To Car Batteries in the Cold?
It’s pretty common for vehicle owners to need a new battery at the end of winter. This is because most car batteries rely on a chemical reaction to produce the electricity necessary to start an engine. When it gets as cold as it does here, automotive batteries need to work very hard to turn the starter motor. The harder the system has to work, the more strain on the battery. If the battery is already toward the end of its usable lifecycle, one hard winter could be enough to require a replacement.
How Do You Know if You Need a New Battery?
Car batteries rarely just stop working out of nowhere. If that does happen, that usually means either the battery was defective, or there is something else going wrong. You don’t need to be a master mechanic to know a battery is failing if you know which signs to look for. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it might be time for a trip to the Southside Dodge Service Department sooner rather than later.
- It sounds like the engine really struggles to start
- Your headlights and interior lights seem dimmer than normal
- Clicking sounds when you turn the key
- You need to press the gas pedal to get it to start
Can You Use Any Car Battery?
Every vehicle has different battery requirements. Choosing a battery that is too small or too powerful, will lead to problems either immediately or in the near future. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will let you know how many amps the battery needs to make in order to work properly. In the event you don’t have an owner’s manual for your vehicle, any Southside Dodge service advisor will be able to help you find what you need quickly.
Don’t get caught with a dead battery at the most inconvenient time, which is when these things tend to happen. Make an appointment with us today to have your battery tested before it’s too late.