How to Know If Your Car Battery Is on Its Way Out

What You Need to Look Out For

Looking after your car’s battery is really important. After all, it is what powers the computer, ignition system, lights, radio and much more. The time will come, though, when a battery starts to decline. Recognising the signs of this and getting it replaced quickly means you can get back to using your car normally as soon as possible. So, here are some of the most common signs of a dead car battery.

Your car engine struggling or not starting

There’s no worse feeling than getting in your car and it not wanting to start. This is one of the biggest signs of a dead battery, or one that is well on its way there. If your battery is on its way out, then you will probably have a handful of instances where the car struggles to start. Take these as a warning.
When your car doesn’t start at all, your battery has truly come to the end of its life. At this point, you won’t be going anywhere. The moral of the story? Bring your car in to us as soon as it develops any problems starting.

Tricky electrics

As we mentioned, your car battery doesn’t just affect the engine. It’s also responsible for anything electric. This includes windows, lights, heaters, and seats. Let’s focus on the lights and heating for a second. As we head into the colder, darker moments, you are going to be using those more. So now is a great time to look out for any issues with them. From not working at all to being less powerful and cutting out, electric issues in your car are often down to a failing battery.

A warning on your dashboard

Sometimes a sign of a dying battery is very, very obvious. If the battery sign on your dashboard keeps flashing, that’s your sign to give us a call. This can be an indicator of a wide range of issues, and it might not even mean having your battery replaced. Don’t ignore it, though, as it definitely isn’t going to get better by itself.

The actual condition of your battery

The battery itself can have some clear signs that all isn’t well. If you take a look at your battery and it has swollen or gives off a smell like rotten eggs, that’s a clear sign that you need a new one. Some batteries can appear fine from the outside, though, so don’t ignore any other warning signs if yours doesn’t look (or smell!) unusual.

Talk to us

There you have it: your guide on how to tell if a car battery is dead. We specialise in German cars, and we have the knowledge and parts to have your car running perfectly again. So why not make an appointment if you think that your battery needs some attention?