Don’t Neglect Your Battery
People often think of the engine of their vehicle as its heart, but that heart doesn’t pump without a battery. It’s one of the key components of any vehicle – EV or not. This is especially true in the winter months, where cold weather can kill an idle battery dead. As such, you want to regularly ensure your battery is in good condition, and replace it once it starts to get old.
What Is the Lifespan of a Battery?
Just like the AAAs in your remote control, your vehicle battery has a finite life before it needs to be replaced. The average battery life for a vehicle is between three to five years. The lifetime of the battery can be affected by use, but maybe not how you expect! Batteries are negatively affected by lack of use – long idle periods, or regular very short trips, especially in the winter, can reduce your overall battery life.
How Can I Tell if My Battery Needs Replaced?
First off, if your battery is over three years old, it may be time to start considering a replacement. However, there are a few electrical issues which may indicate a battery issue. Your engine taking longer to turn over when you start it, your lights dimming or not functioning, and temperature controls not properly working are signs there might be a problem. If you examine the battery and notice a foul odor, or the battery looks swollen, you should also get it serviced immediately.
Don’t wait on your battery. Your vehicle literally can’t function without it. If your vehicle battery is getting old, or you suspect there’s an issue, bring your vehicle to one of our service teams as soon as possible for a diagnostic. If the time has come for a replacement, we’ll take care of it for you.