How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Have you been struggling to start your car in Bethel Park? The problem may well be a dying battery, especially if it’s been a few years since your battery was first installed. There’s no foolproof answer for how often to replace a car battery because numerous factors can affect the lifespan. However, the average driver replaces their battery approximately every four to five years. Read below to learn how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced, how to test a car battery, and more!

What Causes Car Battery Deterioration?

As we mentioned before, four to five years is a common expectation for how often to replace a car battery. But the following points all play a role in your battery’s ability to maintain its capacity, and could cause it to deteriorate more rapidly:

• Heat: Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause a chemical reaction within the battery that decreases the capacity. 
• Vibrations: Ensure your battery’s hold-down clamps are intact; loose clamps allow the battery to be jostled, which can cause the internal parts to break down faster. The vibrations caused by driving on rough roads can have the same effect.
• Jump-Starts: Sometimes a jump-start is unavoidable if you leave your lights or accessories on. However, multiple jump-starts over a short period may weaken the battery — in fact, the need for multiple jump-starts is a sign your battery needs replacing.
• Time: Car batteries don’t last forever. Over time, your car battery degrades and will eventually need to be replaced.

How to Know If Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

If you experience any of these vehicle issues in Canonsburg, you should consider your battery as a likely culprit:

• Dimming headlights
• Increased need for engine revving or jump-starts
• Difficulty starting the engine when you turn the key/use the push-start button
• Unusual power fluctuations

These warning signs tend to point to a dying battery, but to be sure, you’ll want to see our tips on how to test a car battery below!

How to Test a Car Battery

Do you suspect it’s time for a service appointment after reading how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced? We’ll be happy to test your battery at Spitzer Acura, but you can also test it at home in Pittsburgh. Here are two methods to try:

The Headlight Test: 

1. Start the engine and leave the car in Park. Turn the full headlights on. 
2. Rev the engine and watch the headlights’ brightness. 
3. If the headlights get brighter when revving, it likely means the current is too weak to maintain normal brightness while idling. 
4. Visit the service center for a battery inspection.

Using a Digital Multimeter:

1. Set the voltmeter to 20 DC volts and pop your hood. 
2. Touch the negative meter probe (black) against the negative battery terminal (black).
3. Touch the positive meter probe (red) against the positive battery terminal (red).
4. Have a helper turn the headlights on, then check the voltmeter reading. 
5. At 80℉, 12.5 volts or higher indicates a full charge, while 12.3 volts indicates around a 75% charge. At 11.8 volts or lower, the battery is 25% or less charged.

How Much is a Replacement Car Battery? 

About how much is a replacement car battery going to cost? It depends on the battery. On the lower end, a new car battery may cost between $75 and $120, while a premium battery could cost up to $200. 

For hybrid and electric cars, the battery could cost up to $6,000 or more, but hybrid and electric batteries also last a lot longer!

Get a Car Battery Replacement in McMurray

Looking for battery replacement in McMurray? Turn to Spitzer Acura for fast, friendly service at competitive prices. Contact us with any questions about how much a replacement car battery costs, and don’t miss out on our service specials!