Comprehensive Guide to Car Battery Services

On average, a car battery lasts between 3 to 5 years, but this can vary greatly depending on various factors, including the quality of the battery, the climate, your driving habits, and how often the car is used.

Regular maintenance, such as cleaning battery terminals and checking the battery’s charge, can also extend its life. It’s a good idea to start checking your battery’s performance after it’s been in use for 3 years and to consider replacing it every 5 years to prevent being stranded with a dead battery.

Several factors can cause a dead car battery, but a major one is parasitic draw. This is when your car’s electrical systems continue draining battery power even when the car is off. This drain is not due to any obvious cause, like leaving your headlights on, and needs to be diagnosed by professional mechanics.

Other causes include corroded connections (which is when the terminals connecting your battery to the vehicle are corroded or damaged, leading to power loss) and a problematic alternator, which is supposed to charge your battery while driving.

Here are just a few ways to tell that you need to replace your car battery:

• Your car doesn’t start: A new battery has a specified capacity to provide power. As it ages, the amount of power a battery can supply becomes lower than its original rating. After a certain point, it will be difficult or impossible to start your car.
• The battery warning light has turned on: if a battery charge or warning light turns on, a mechanic should perform a few basic tests to determine if a battery replacement is needed.
• Electrical components don’t work: once a battery has started to fail, your car’s electronics, such as the security system, may also start malfunctioning.

If you are experiencing electrical malfunctions, it’s a smart idea to have the battery tested and possibly replaced.

Parasitic draw (or drain) is when your car’s electrical system continues to pull energy from the battery, even when the vehicle is completely turned off. This is not the same as leaving your headlights on overnight accidentally, as none of the electronics should be pulling power from the battery, but it’s dying anyway. A parasitic draw can also kill the lifespan of a battery, so get a parasitic draw test done as soon as possible.

Yes, we perform parasitic draw testing at Bradley’s Auto in Red Bank, NJ. We diagnose the issue with a Parasitic Draw Test, which involves measuring the amount of current drawn from the battery while the car is turned off. If any electrical component is using more power than it should, the source is identified, and our mechanics can repair or replace the malfunctioning part, restoring the battery’s ability to maintain its charge when the car is off.

Parasitic drain can occur when your car’s electrical systems continue to draw power from the battery even when the vehicle is turned off. Common causes include malfunctioning interior or trunk lights that fail to shut off, faulty wiring, aftermarket electronic devices that were improperly installed, or problems with the car’s security or alarm systems. Any of these issues can slowly deplete the battery’s charge, leading to unexpected power loss.

Driving with a battery problem, such as a parasitic drain or failing battery, is risky and can leave you stranded if the battery dies unexpectedly. Not only can you lose the ability to start your car, but battery issues may also affect the performance of key electrical systems, including lights, windows, and other components crucial to safe driving. It’s always better to address battery issues ASAP to avoid being caught off-guard.

Regular maintenance is essential to increase the lifespan of your battery. Clean the battery terminals periodically to prevent corrosion, check the battery’s charge levels, and ensure your alternator is functioning properly. Avoid making frequent short trips that don’t allow the battery to fully recharge, and minimize the use of electronics when the engine is off.

You should consider getting your battery replaced every 3 to 5 years, depending on the battery’s performance and your driving conditions. If you notice signs like difficulty starting the car, dimming headlights, or electrical malfunctions, it’s a good idea to have the battery tested by a professional. Replacing it before it completely fails is always your best option.