Did you know that the average lifespan of a car's battery ranges between two and five years?
There are many factors that can affect how long your car's battery will last.
How do you know when your car battery is dead? No one wants to send an embarrassing "my battery is dead, SOS" text from the side of the road.
Keep reading and we'll give you 5 signs your car battery is dead to avoid an inconvenient situation.
1. Signs Your Car Battery is Dead: Dim Headlights
We've all been there, driving in the dark, squinting to see because the headlights aren't what they used to be. But when you get out to check them, they aren't fogged up or dirty.
Dim headlights are a good sign of a dead battery, as they need a fully charged battery to perform as they should.
How do you know if your car battery is dead, or if you only need to replace your headlights? You can always bring your car to B&M Auto Repairs to get a proper diagnosis and fix.
2. Slow Engine Crank
Do you know that sigh of relief you get when your ignition takes a long time to turn over, but finally does? Don't sigh too soon.
If your car's engine crank is super slow, one of the reasons could be a dead battery.
It's somewhat normal to experience a slower crank in the winter months. You may want to wait until spring comes to make plans to replace it.
Of course, you can always get a diagnosis to be sure, but don't ignore your engine's slow crank.
3. Check Engine Light is On
There are many reasons for your check engine light to come on, electrical and mechanical. You should always take it to heart when it does.
When your battery is on the fritz, your check engine light should give you the warning you need to get it fixed.
4. Faulty Accessories
Have you noticed that your car's stereo cuts out sometimes, or your windows take forever to roll up and down?
This is your car warning you that your battery is dead or dying.
Dim dome lights and dim or flickering dashboard lights can also be a sign that your battery is dying.
5. Your Car Doesn't Start
If you get radio silence when you turn your key in the ignition, it's almost certain that your battery is dead
Even if it starts on some days but doesn't on others, you still have an issue with the battery. In this case, it could be faulty battery wires or terminals.
It could be as easy as jiggling the battery cables, or you may need to tighten up your terminals.
Either way, you need to get your battery replaced or fixed to avoid breaking down in dangerous places.
Drive On
After reading these signs your car battery is dead, you've determined whether you need a new one or not.
Give us a call or drop by B&M Auto Repairs to get your battery up and running today.
B&M Auto Repair and Towing is proud to offer mechanic services to the Collegeville, Phoenixville, and Oak PA areas. We fix brakes, provide towing services, and everything in between, so give us a call at (484) 358-6784 and let B&M Auto be your auto service and repair partner.