What to Do If You Have Recurring Issues With Your Car Battery

15 September 2020
 Categories: , Blog

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If you've been having problems with your car battery recently, you may be wondering what is at fault. It may have been slow to respond in the morning, and you may have had to buy a battery charger to give it an additional boost. What could be going wrong here, and especially if the is not very old?

Are There Any Other Issues at Play?

In most circumstances, an average car battery should last for at least three years. If you have replaced your unit more recently than that and you are encountering problems already, then you probably have other issues.

Clean and Connected

To begin with, make sure that the battery is properly seated, as clean as possible and free of corrosion. Check the cables using an appropriately sized spanner, and don't rely on a "finger touch" instead. The cables may appear to be connected appropriately, but they will need to be tightened down properly if they are to work correctly.

Alternator

When your car is in motion, the battery will be charged by the alternator. You might want to check its efficiency or ask an auto electrician to have a look at it, to make sure that it is functioning properly. Typically, it either works, or it doesn't, and in the latter case, your vehicle would simply breakdown. Nevertheless, if it is not working at full efficiency, it won't be able to charge the battery as it should.

Parasite

Have you recently fitted an accessory to your car that could be incorrectly wired? Usually, any accessory will be designed to isolate from the battery source when not in use, but if this is not the case, it could be what is known as a parasite. In other words, this accessory may be drawing power from the battery when the vehicle is stationary and unused. If that's the case, you will need to disconnect the accessory and get it checked out first.

Heatstroke

Bear in mind that batteries can be affected by extreme heat. If you live in a part of the country that has been so affected, then you may need to get it checked out.

Replacement

If all else fails and you need to buy a new battery, ensure that you get the right model for your vehicle. Talk with your auto battery supplier so that you don't make any mistakes, and end up with more problems in the future.