12 Signs Your Chrysler Needs a New Car Battery

At some point, most drivers experience the need to jumpstart their car because of a drained car battery. But how do you know whether a misbehaving battery simply needs to be recharged or is dying and should be replaced? To help you understand the difference, here’s a comprehensive guide to the warning signs of a failing car battery. If you experience any of these issues, head to your local Chrysler dealership for a new car battery without delay.

12 Signs Your Chrysler Needs a New Car Battery

You Need To Jumpstart Your Car Repeatedly

If you accidentally leave your car’s headlights or stereo on overnight, you might need to jumpstart your car the following morning. Once recharged, a healthy battery will continue to operate as usual. 

But if your battery has become too old or damaged to properly hold a charge or deliver voltage to the starter, jumpstarts may become a regular occurrence.

Your Engine’s Turning Over Sluggishly

When a battery is on its last legs, in most cases, the engine will become gradually slower to crank before it fails altogether. When you turn the ignition key or press the starter button, the starter and engine’s spark plugs require a powerful surge of electricity. Dying batteries struggle to deliver this voltage, which results in slow starts and sputtering sounds.

Your Battery Struggles in Cold Weather

Car batteries are significantly impacted by extreme temperatures, especially freezing wintry weather. Inside the battery, the cold slows down the chemical reaction that converts the stored energy into electricity. Extreme cold can also thicken the electrolyte mixture that the battery depends on; its water component can even become frozen. 

On top of this, motor oil is also thickened by the cold, making the engine much more reluctant and tough to start. This means that car batteries have to be in top form during winter when they have the hardest job. If your battery begins to struggle in the cold, it may be a first indication that it’s damaged or getting too old to continue using. 

Your Headlights Start To Fade and Flicker

Headlights are usually among the last electronic components to lose power when a battery fails. This is because of an in-built prioritization that many modern cars have which cuts off voltage from less important car parts before starving the components more vital for safe driving, like the headlights. 

Several Electronics Begin To Malfunction 

With a bad battery, before your headlights fade you’re likely to notice more than one of your car’s electrical accessories malfunction. This may include your car stereo, phone charger, heated seats, power windows, air conditioner, air purifier, GPS, or something else. 

Your Engine Starts Misfiring 

A few vital engine parts also depend on the battery for a steady supply of electricity, most notably the fuel pumps, ignition coils, and spark plugs. For this reason, a failing battery can sometimes lead to engine misfiring, which causes a car to cough and sputter, especially when resting in idle. Misfiring can also rapidly lead to worse car problems if not promptly resolved with a new car battery. 

Your Battery Is Swelling Out of Shape

If your battery’s casing ever appears misshapen in any way, then it’s no longer safe to use. Extreme temperatures and internal faults can occasionally cause an aging battery’s casing to warp. 

Sometimes overcharging can cause hydrogen gas to build up rapidly inside a car battery, causing the battery casing to swell. This bloating not only destroys the battery but can even cause it to explode. Needless to say, you should disconnect and throw out a swollen car battery immediately.  

You Smell Leaking Battery Acid

If a car battery springs a leak, you’ll smell a strong sulfur, rotten-egg stench. This smell comes from sulfuric acid mixed with water inside the battery. When a crack allows the water to evaporate, it carries the sulfuric acid into the air, creating the rotten egg smell. A leaking car battery is also too damaged and hazardous for continued safe usage. 

Your Battery’s Terminals Are Corroded

When you inspect your car battery, look for corrosion on the metal terminals on top of the battery. If you see a very light patina of white or green corrosion, you may be able to clean it away safely with a good cleaning product. However, heavier corrosion often means the battery can no longer conduct electricity properly. Corroded terminals might also indicate leaking battery acid. 

Your Dashboard’s Battery Warning Light Appears

Most battery-related problems will be detected by your car, triggering the battery warning light to spring to life on your dashboard. If you notice this warning light, check your battery right away. If the battery is fine, the light might have been caused by loose wiring, a bad alternator, or another electrical fault. You may need a technician at your local Chrysler dealership to figure it out. 

Your Battery Reaches Five Years of Age

Most car batteries will give up the ghost after three to five years. So if your battery has reached five years of age, consider having it replaced before it starts causing problems for you and your car. If you can’t remember how old your battery is, you can usually find the manufacturing date on a label on the battery’s back. You might need a technician to decode the letters and numbers for you.

Your Chrysler Dealer Recommends a New Battery 

As with any other essential car part, it’s advisable to have your car’s electrical system regularly inspected. An experienced technician at your nearest Chrysler dealer can test your battery to ensure it’s working well, and if there are any problems, they’ll recommend replacing it. This way, you’ll catch issues early on rather than experiencing battery-related trouble on the road. 

Visit Auffenberg Chrysler of Herrin in Herrin, IL, today to have your battery tested or replaced. We’re a locally trusted dealership offering terrific cars and maintenance services with a dedication to building long-term customer relationships.