Does Your Ford Need a New Car Battery?

Image via Bob Maxey Ford of Howell.

Rotten egg smells, faltering electronics, and trouble starting your car are all signs that you might need a new car battery. If in doubt, you can always ask a technician at your local Ford dealership to test your battery and determine its condition. 

Slow Starts in the Morning

In the morning, your car’s starter and spark plugs need a strong burst of electrical voltage to get going. A weakening battery will struggle to deliver this electrical supply. You might find the engine taking longer and longer to start turning over, especially on cold mornings. 

Failure To Start Altogether 

Eventually, if not replaced, the aging battery will fail to start the engine at all. You’ll find yourself needing to jumpstart your car. If the battery is to blame for this problem, the car will usually run well once jumpstarted as the alternator starts producing new electricity. But the next morning, you may have the same problem once again. 

Faltering Lights and Electronics

All the electronics in your vehicle will start to slow down when the battery goes bad. At first, you might notice problems with your air conditioning, power windows, heated seats, and stereo. Soon thereafter, your dashboard dials, internal lights, and headlights will fail as well. 

Strong Rotten-Egg Smell

When a battery becomes seriously damaged by extreme temperatures, excessive vibrations, or internal shorts, it might spring a leak. This means foul-smelling battery acid will be leaking into your car, which can rapidly cause damage to other components. 

If you ever smell something like rotten eggs in your cabin, check your battery at once to see if it’s leaking. A leaking battery will have to be replaced.

Misshapen Battery Casing

Likewise, any warping or bulging in the casing of a battery means that it’s become damaged beyond repair. You can pop the hood any time to visually inspect your battery. If the sides aren’t perfectly straight and even, have it replaced as soon as possible. 

Head to Your Ford Dealership for a New Battery Every 3 to 5 Years

Car batteries tend to last between three and five years. This means once three years have passed, you should keep a closer eye on the condition of your battery. If you want to be sure of its condition, you can ask a technician at your local dealership to inspect it and test its power with a multimeter. 

Have your car battery checked and replaced today at Bob Maxey Ford-Howell. We offer an extensive inventory of new and pre-owned vehicles and excellent maintenance and repair services.

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