A car battery is a crucial piece of equipment that helps start your vehicle. It provides the electrical current needed to power the starter motor, ignition system, and fuel system in your car. When it’s working properly, you don’t even have to think about it. But when it starts to fail, it can be a major headache. Here are some telltale signs that your car battery is dying-and what you can do about it.
The most common symptom of a dying car battery is a slow crank-that is, it takes longer than normal for your engine to turn over when you try to start your car. If you turn the key and nothing happens, or if your car starts but then dies shortly thereafter, these could also be signs that your battery is on its last legs.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, it’s time to test your battery. You can do this with a digital multimeter or a handheld voltage meter. Simply connect the positive lead from the meter to the positive terminal on your battery, and then touch the negative lead to the negative terminal. If your reading is 12.6 volts or higher, then your battery is fine. If it’s 12.5 volts or lower, then you need to replace it.
Once you’ve determined that your battery needs to be replaced, there are a few different options available to you. You can buy a new battery and install it yourself, or you can take it to a professional mechanic or auto parts store and have them do it for you. Regardless of which route you choose, make sure you dispose of your old battery properly-most auto parts stores will recycle used batteries for free. With a new battery in place, your car should start right up-no more slow cranking or stubborn engines!