Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your Chevy Dealer

Your Chevy’s battery has two main functions. It provides the power to start your engine, and it stores power for the electrical systems to draw from when your car is stationary. The battery, however, isn’t designed for long-term use. After a few years, your battery will start to decline, and it will need to be replaced. When this time comes, your Chevy dealer in Park Hills, MO, can replace it with a new car battery.

Battery Corrosion

When a battery gets older and weaker, the internal components start to break down. The chemical processes that allow your battery to store and supply power destroy the battery itself. Sulfuric acid in the battery converts into other chemicals, and this process reduces the battery’s storage capacity. Some of the sulfuric acid vapor will leak out of the battery case into your engine, where it will mix with moisture in the air.

The vapor and water form hydrogen gas which crystalizes around your battery terminals. This crystallized gas begins corroding the battery terminals, and this corrosion weakens your battery even further. Left unchecked, the corrosion can also eat through the battery connectors. Signs of corrosion are easy to see by checking your battery. The negative terminal will show flaky white power, and the positive terminal has a green-blue or white salt-like substance. It’s time to get a new battery.

Your Battery Is Old

The average battery life is 3 to 5 years before it needs to be replaced. The battery can last up to six years, but it’s also possible for a battery to wear out much sooner. Driving conditions, climate, driving habits, and a worn alternator can kill your battery much sooner. Cold weather, for example, degrades battery strength much faster, and hot weather can damage the delicate components inside the battery.

When your battery gets older, its maximum charging level decreases, and it becomes more difficult to charge to that level. This failure is progressive, making your battery steadily weaker. We advise that you have your battery tested at least every three years to ensure that it can still work efficiently. We’ll attach the testers to your battery, and we can replace it if it’s wearing out.

Damaged Battery Case

The hard plastic shell of your battery is designed to protect the delicate components inside it and to prevent chemicals like sulfuric acid from escaping. As we’ve seen, the chemical reactions inside the battery will start to destroy the battery. These reactions can also cause the casing to bulge outwards. The effects of extreme cold and heat contribute to this, and the casing can warp.

If you look at your battery and its looks slightly irregular in shape, it will need to be replaced ASAP. A damaged battery case can’t be repaired.

If your battery is showing signs of aging, it’s better to replace it than risk a dead battery. Call our service department at Park Hills Chevrolet and we’ll replace it.

Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels

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