Imagine you’re getting ready to go to work and you’re already running a bit late. You jump in the car and start it. This results in a coughing, spluttering sound from your engine, trying to clear its throat but not succeeding. This is the sound of a flat battery!
Although it’s not the end of the world, it is a seriously annoying problem that can be easily avoided. All you need to do is get your battery tested regularly and replace it when necessary. How often should you replace your car battery? That depends on a few things and we’ll discuss them in this post.
What wears down a car battery?
Apart from normal battery use of starting your car, there are some other factors that particularly strain your car battery. The more often these factors occur for you, the more often you’ll need to replace your car battery. Peak hour driving is a big factor, in which your car stops and starts constantly, causing your battery to be used more often. Another factor is the cold – batteries have more trouble starting in cold weather than warm weather. If you live in a cold part of Australia, you’ll most likely need to replace your battery more often. Also, a higher number of auxiliary car accessories will mean more battery usage. Those auxiliary accessories need to be powered from somewhere – and that source is your car battery.
Signs that it’s time for a new battery
There are a few signs that your battery might need replacing:
- Starting hesitation – If you’ve noticed that your car is a bit reluctant to start and takes a second or two longer to fire up, then this could be a sign that your battery is on the way out.
- Headlights are dim – if your headlights seem dimmer than usual, head to a mechanic to get your battery tested. This can also be a sign of battery weakness.
How often should I replace the battery?
You should get your battery tested when you’ve had it for three years. At this point, your battery’s capacity will be reduced, but it could still be safe to use for a little while longer. The more often you get your battery tested, the less likely you are to be stranded due to battery failure. As a general rule, you should change your battery every 3 to 4.5 years.
Replacing your car’s battery at appropriate intervals is the best way to ensure it won’t go flat. For a battery test and/or replacement on exotic cars, get in touch with German Service Shop. They’re Melbourne’s leading German vehicle specialist workshop for Mercedes, Audi, BMW, Mini and Volkswagen. Get expert battery replacements at affordable rates through German Service Shop. Give the team a call today.