How often should a car battery be replaced?

Your car battery doesn’t just power your lights, radio and windows. It’s also responsible for engine ignition and powering your car’s computer. When your battery is on its way out, it affects the performance of your whole vehicle.

Most of the time, simply driving your car is enough to give your car battery plenty of charge. But when it’s nearly reaching the end of its life, this won’t be enough. That’s why it’s important to know when to replace your car battery and what you can do to keep it in good condition.

When should you replace a car battery?

A brand new car battery will typically last for around three to five years. With good maintenance and driving habits, it’s possible to extend this.

Signs that your car battery needs replacing include:

• Dimming headlights
• Delayed ignition
• Dashboard warning
• Need for revving or jumpstarts
• Odd power fluctuations

How to test your car battery

There’s a very simple way to test whether your car battery needs replacing:

1. With your car parked safely on a flat surface, start your engine and turn on your headlights.
2. Rev your engine and check whether the brightness of your headlights changes.
3. If revving your engine causes your headlights to dim, it’s time to replace your car battery.

What makes a car battery deteriorate faster?

All car batteries deteriorate over time, even when you don’t drive often. But there are a few things that speed up the ageing process:

• Temperature: Excessive what causes the liquids in your car battery to evaporate, shortening its lifespan. Similarly, excessive cold can sap a battery’s power more quickly. So keep your car parked in the shade during warmer months and under a warm cover when it’s chilly out.
• Jump starting: Unfortunately, the most popular way of recharging a flat car battery can also cause lasting damage. That’s because jump starting your car causes the battery’s alternator to pump at a much higher rate than intended. This heats up the battery, leading to bent battery plates, shedding of active material and build-up of debris in the bottom of the battery.
• Vibrations: Frequently driving on poor-quality roads causes your car to vibrate. As well as loosening the power clamps, it can also damage the internal component of your car battery.

How much does it cost to replace a car battery?

A decent car battery will cost you around £100, with high-quality models often clocking in at over £300. While some people replace their car battery themselves, this can be risky. Not only can damaging the car battery cause it to leak corrosive battery acid, but incorrect installation can drastically shorten its working lifespan. If you think your car battery needs changing, always contact a qualified auto technician.

Book a local battery change with Ablefit

Before an expired battery leaves you stranded, get yours replaced with a quick and affordable visit to Ablefit. We have centres across Bristol in Longwell Green, Brislington and Muller Road, all staffed by experienced mechanics. Contact us today to book your battery replacement.