How Long Should A Car Battery Last
Valerie Johnston
The life of your car battery depends on how long it can hold its charge, and be recharged. Once it cant be recharged, its dead. There are a number of factors that can affect your car battery, including humidity, temperature, and other environmental factors.
Lets assume perfect conditions. No high temperatures, no excessive humidity, no nothing else. Under these conditions, you can probably expect your car battery life to be about six years. If you want to average it out, though, you can expect your auto battery life to be somewhere between two and five years. If you live in the northern United States, your car battery lifespan will be longer, because youre in a cold climate. Warm climates tend to increase damage due to sulfation and water loss.
Of course, proper car battery care can greatly enhance your car battery lifespan, and the best way to make sure that your car battery lasts a long time is to make sure that its always fully charged. That means that you should try not to leave your lights on, or leave accessories plugged in that could reduce your auto battery life. Also, make sure that your mechanic checks your battery when you go in for your routine vehicle maintenance.
There Are Positives And Negatives To Having A Car Battery
While they power your car, allowing you to get from A to B, batteries can also cause a bit of hassle when they start acting up. But if you put in the effort to look after your car battery, itâll return the favour and keep you going for as long as it can.
Car batteries are particularly at risk of draining during cold weather, and when theyâre unused for a long period of time .
A healthy battery stays out of your mind, as it should, but an unhealthy one can cause you a lot of issues. Putting in a small bit of effort now can save you time and money in the long run.
Weâve got some top tips to help make sure your car battery stays alive and well.
The RAC advises that most batteries last up to 5 years, but just like the luggage carousel at Gatwick Airport, itâs a case-by-case basis. Some batteries can fail after as little as two years, depending on the conditions theyâve been kept in and how the carâs been driven. Itâs worth looking into changing your car battery if itâs been acting up lately, or if itâs edging towards its fifth birthday. The winter months are the most challenging for car batteries, so getting yours sorted in advance will have you one step ahead of the crowd.
What About Electric Car Batteries How Long Do They Last
Maybe you drive an electric car and you have EV batteries. These batteries will typically last for 100,000 miles or longer. At some point, the range will become diminished, however. The change might happen after five years and might go from 149 miles to about 132 miles or about a 2.3% reduction each year.
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Dont Leave Your Car Sitting For Too Long
Your cars battery will discharge slowly over time even when its not in use. So, if youre someone who doesnt need to drive around much, its worth taking your car out for a spin every now and then just to maintain the batterys health.
If youre not likely to do this, consider purchasing a battery charger or trickle charger. This is a small device that can be hooked up to your battery when its not in use, to deliver a slow, consistent charge and keep the battery fully charged.
Dim Headlights And Electrical Problems
The battery powers the starter and all electronics in a vehicle, including the headlights, air conditioning and onboard computer. A weak battery will struggle to run the electronics at full power, and itll be most apparent with dimming headlights.
Heres a quick way to check:
- Start your car at night, with the headlights on
- If theyre dim, shift the vehicle into neutral or park, then rev the engine
- If your car battery is failing, the headlights will brighten as you press the accelerator
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How Long Do Hybrid Car Batteries Last
There are also vehicles that use both gasoline and electricity for power. These vehicles use hybrid car batteries. Just like EV batteries, you can easily get 100,000 miles out of these batteries. Most come with a 10-year warranty or even a 150,000-mile warranty. In some cases, you might get more out of these car batteries than an EV battery since its a hybrid vehicle.
Brandon Myers
A Few Ways To Make Your Car Battery Last Longer
There are many things that can cause a car battery to die, but what about some of the ways to extend the lifespan? If you want to get the most out of your battery, consider the following:
- Use a battery maintainer if you will need to go a long time in between starts
- Avoid powering accessories for a long period of time, such as a radio at a campsite.
- Test your battery often to make sure its still working well.
- Dont remove the protective blankets that came with the vehicle around the battery.
While you wont be able to make a car battery last forever, you can keep it from failing sooner. With these tips, you can get three to five years out of your battery without as much worry.
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Overlooking The Corrosion Aspect
How Stuff Workssuggests that a good cleaning can lead to a long-lasting battery. That white dust that builds up on the terminals can create shorts and poor charging conditions. Leave that residue in place, and the battery will fail in record time.
Mix these two items together to create a cleaning paste, such as:
- Water
- Baking soda
Apply the mixture with a brush while wearing protective eyewear. You might see more life out of the battery with this cleaning habit in place.
Choose The Right Battery
Choosing the right battery for your vehicle and circumstances is crucial to getting the biggest bang for your buck.
Your car will likely be limited in the size of battery it can take, according to its model, make and engine type. However, consider the available cold cranking amps in your battery size group if youre living in particularly cold conditions. A higher CCA, often found in heavy duty batteries, will mean that your battery is able to perform better in sub-zero temperatures.
Above all, youll need to be sure the battery youre selecting meets or exceeds the Original Equipment Manufacturer requirements that is, the requirements set by the cars manufacturer. For example, your car will need a minimum amp hour rating, and might require specific technology such as a Start/Stop battery.
Choosing the wrong battery can cause your cars internal systems to malfunction, and in turn kill your battery prematurely. We can help you so just Holler or visit our battery selector.
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Turn Off All The Lights When You Exit
Accidentally keeping your headlights and car door lights on can put a heavy toll on your vehicles battery.To keep yourself from forgetting, post a note on your dashboard, attach a sticker reminder on your car remote or park in a direction where you must walk past your headlights to get to your destination.
Charging By A Dedicated Charger
Using a dedicated charger is also straightforward, but there are a few procedures involved.
- A specialized charger can also be used, however there are certain processes involved.
Types of Car Battery Chargers In order to receive the most power from your vehicle battery, you must use a good car battery charger for optimal battery charging. You will discover various different types of chargers on the market nevertheless, you should choose the one that is appropriate for your car model and/or the instructions provided by your auto mechanic or handbook. Always keep in mind that a suitable charger will provide you with an appropriate/exact output. There are three different sorts of vehicle chargers for your automobile, which we will discuss below:
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Does Your Alternator Charge Your Car Battery At Idle
Youve probably experienced a dead vehicle battery before. You may not have encountered this problem before if you do not use your automobile on a regular basis. For a variety of reasons, many people have relocated to areas of a city where they no longer need to go by automobile. Now the question is how frequently we use the automobile and how long it will be before the battery runs out of charge. One month is a reasonable amount of time to dedicate to this project. After a month of being parked, your cars battery will begin to fail.
Because of this, we may deduce that the battery charges slowly when the vehicle is idling and that it would be prudent to avoid placing a significant electrical load on the vehicle while it is idling.
- The engine must be operational . The alternator must be in proper operating order
- Else, it will not operate.
Check For Terminal Corrosion
For instance, a buildup of corrosion that looks a bit like blue salt may form around the battery terminals over time. Left unchecked, this buildup can slowly drain the battery even when a car isnt in use, leading to a weak battery with a shorter-than-expected life.
Regular inspection of the battery terminals is advised and proper cleaning of any buildup on the terminals should be handled promptly.
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A Slow Starting Engine
Over time, the components inside your battery will wear out and become less effective. When this happens it takes the battery longer to create a charge for the starter and youll have to wait a few extra seconds for the engine to turn over. A slow start is usually the last gasp before a battery kicks the bucket.
How Long Does It Take For An Alternator To Recharge A Dead Battery
When it comes to a dead battery, the alternator will not be able to resuscitate such a thing. It creates an excessive amount of labor to charge and maintain the batterys life at the same time while driving a vehicle. As a result, depending on the degree of battery charging, the alternator can only provide for the recharge of flat batteries. In this circumstance, it is recommended that the battery be charged in advance using an ampere charger. A charge of 15 to 30 minutes is required, after which it delivers a charging capacity of 40 amp.
It is necessary to drive for half an hour in order to replenish the battery.
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Battery Light Is On After A Jumpstart
The biggest telltale sign of a bad battery is the battery light â a red warning light in the shape of a car battery â or the “check charging system” warning displays on the gauge cluster after getting a jumpstart. This means the self-diagnostic system detects abnormal power flow in the charging system, and that could mean it’s time for a battery replacement.
All Charged Up At Clutch
Though they can be aggravating, battery issues are relatively small problems in the automotive world. Here at Clutch, we make sure the car you buy has a good battery and won’t leave you stranded.
All of our quality pre-owned vehicles go through a 210-point inspection, including a battery and charging system test. This will help ensure you have trouble-free driving.
Plus, our car-buying process is 100% online, we offer easy financing, and we deliver your vehicle to you. You then have 10 days to try the vehicle risk-free. If you don’t like it, you can return it for a full refund or exchange it for another vehicle.
Plus, all Clutch vehicles purchased online include a 90-day or 6,000-km limited warranty. So, if any issue does arise, you know you’re covered.
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Engine Is Slow To Start
If you notice that your engine is slow to start when you get in your car, it can be a sign that your battery is about to fail. Over time, the battery components wear out and become less effective. For this reason, it can take the battery more time to create a charge for your starter, making you wait a few seconds for your engine to start running.
Car Batteries Are Not One
You must consider the battery type, physical size, terminal configuration, and cold cranking amps or amp-hour rating to ensure you get a car battery that properly fits and functions for your make and model vehicle. Installing an incorrect battery can adversely affect the car’s electrical system and cause major damage if the terminal locations create a short circuit with nearby components. If you are not sure which car battery to buy, ask yourauto repair professional or consult your owner’s manual.
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Does Idling Drain Your Battery
Yes, even idling your automobile for two minutes will be comparable to driving a mile! Not only does leaving your car idling waste petrol, but it also prevents your battery from being recharged. When you dont allow your battery to charge, it will begin to waste its power while youre idle. When your car is idling, the engine and alternator run at a sluggish speed. The alternator will deliver power to the battery in order for it to be recharged. If, on the other hand, you are utilizing high-powered accessories, the alternator will be unable to keep up with the electrical demand.
If you leave your car running for an extended period of time, it will deplete your battery and cause permanent harm.
It will not only save you money on gas, but it will also keep the pressure on your cars battery to a minimum.
What Is A Cold Cranking Amps Rating
The cold cranking amps rating, for example 650 CCA, is an industry standard measure of how much electrical power a battery can provide at zero degrees Fahrenheit. Never confuse this rating with “cranking amps” , a rating based on an easier test that produces inflated numbers. Some import automakers state battery power requirements using an amp-hour rating, for example 78 Ah. This rating is based on the number of minutes a battery can provide a specified level of electrical current, typically 20 amperes. To avoid electrical system problems and a visit to the repair shop, never install a battery with a CCA or Ah rating that is lower than what the vehicle manufacturer recommends. A higher-rated battery will work if it fits properly, but is usually unnecessary and may have a shorter service life in hot climates.
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Check Up On Your Charging System
A regular charging system checkup is also a great idea. Many service centres will perform this check automatically while youre in for an oil change, while others will perform the check upon request. Its generally inexpensive and sometimes free.
A charging system test can quickly reveal problems within the hardware and electronics responsible for charging your battery as you drive your car. If a charging system issue is limiting your cars capacity to properly charge and condition its battery, it could be shortening its life.
Drivers should also ensure their vehicle is running the latest software updates for all electronic systems, which can have a dramatic and positive impact on the health of your battery and its lifespan.
Why Do Car Batteries Die
Car batteries are designed for one purpose provide a powerful, quick, high-amperage current to the starter to start the car, and then constantly have this charge of 12.4 volts maintained by the alternator once the car is running. The following things, however, can cause a battery to either not retain that charge, or not supply the proper current to start the car.
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