Tips On Testing Your Car Battery From Auto Repair Lincoln Park Area

Car batteries seem to die at the most inconvenient times, and most drivers don't think of replacing them until they expire. Sometimes batteries fail without warning. They drain quickly if you leave the lights on for extended periods, and your car will make a buzzing or clicking noise when you try to start it. In other cases, your battery will show signs of decline before it fails completely. If you know what to look for, you can replace it before it stops working altogether. While you can have the battery tested by a qualified technician at an auto repair Lincoln Park service center, here are a few tips to help you check things out for yourself.

You may want to check the battery under the hood of your car for signs of decline. It is always good to check when it was made by the date code on the battery that lists the month and year of issue. This is a good guide to use if your battery is over three years or older it is time to get it replaced.

If there is no date on the battery, you can check for signs of wear and use by looking at the connector cables. If there is corrosion or a white chalky substance around the battery cables, this can be a sign of decline and a need for replacement.

If your car engine is cranking slowly, this is a sign that the battery is declining and needs to be replaced. You can also test your headlights by turning them on with the engine off and if they are dim then this is a sign the battery is near the end of its useful life.

Dead batteries usually result in the car not being able to be started at all. You may hear clicking sounds or nothing at all. It is always a good idea to carry jumper cables for emergencies on the road.

Although you can test the battery yourself, it's best to let a professional replace it. The connections are difficult to take apart when they have become corroded. Plus, car batteries are unwieldy; installation shouldn't be attempted by a novice.