Your car battery is part of what makes your vehicle function, and it’s far too easy to let it die. Most of the time you can jump it and it’s as good as new. Other times you’re going to need a new car battery. So, wherever you are, make sure you know a good technician who can replace the battery for you. We have some right here in Rochester, MN who’ll be happy to help – so let’s talk about when it’s time to get your battery changed.
1. Your Engine Starts Slow – Not Uncommon in Rochester, MN!
A slow-starting engine or a car that won’t start at all is a signal for some people that they need to consult their friend with the jumper cables. However, this won’t work forever. Like anything, over time the battery wears out and the components stop working as effectively. It starts taking the battery longer to charge up and so turning the engine on takes longer.
If your start times have been getting longer it’s time you had a professional look under the hood. Your battery is most likely on its last legs and someday soon your car just won’t start. Although, if it’s winter and you’re lucky it’s may just be the cold weather impacting the battery – we all know how snowy it can get during Minnesota winters. Still, it’s good to get things checked out anyway.
2. Electrical Faults
If the electrics in your vehicle aren’t working properly then it’s usually the battery’s fault. This includes components like the radio, the dash, and the lights. The battery powers all of these and if it’s not charging effectively then the components aren’t going to work. This leads to dim lights and a lazy radio, and goodness knows what can go wrong with your dash.
While this is happening, avoid plugging things into the vehicle’s USB slots. Keep the radio off, limit your infotainment use, and try to avoid using lights as much as possible. Go get your battery charged out so you can return to using all of your vehicle’s amenities.
3. Foul Smells
There are a lot of faults that create unpleasant aromas in a vehicle, from old tires to brake fluid leakage. The battery is another culprit. If the battery shorts out it may start leaking gas. The smell can leak into the cabin, or it could be contained under the hood. You’ll usually recognize it as a smell like rotten eggs – so get your battery checked out and replaced.
4. Ashy Substance
When you’re under the hood you should always inspect everything that’s under there. While inspecting your battery you need to keep an eye out for an ash-like film on your battery’s metal components. This is the result of corroded connectors which is a sign you need to replace your battery. If you don’t replace it you’re going to have trouble starting your vehicle very soon.
Do you need a new battery? Come and see us at Rochester Toyota and we can take care of that for you. We can handle all makes and models, not just Toyota vehicles.
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