It will be easy to notice if the battery is losing power by just starting your vehicle. If the vehicle is slow to crank when starting, it is sign the battery may be wearing out. There may also be dimming of the display or backlighting on the dashboard. A poorly charged battery will also tend to show significant dimming for the headlights when you start your vehicle. If you notice any issues with the vehicle starting, make sure to bring it in as soon as possible.

 

If there is an issue with the battery, it may be due to poor battery terminals. These should be regularly inspected to make sure they are not broken or damaged. Also there should not be any corrosion on them. Corrosion on the terminals is commonly caused by electrolysis from the different metals on the terminals and battery cables. It can also occur when there is an imperfect seal between terminal posts and the plastic casing. This can allow sulfuric acid to build up on the terminal posts.

 

A battery that is beginning to lose its charge can cause issues with the vehicle starting. This is especially common for a vehicle that has sat without being driven for a few hours. If the vehicle is struggling to turn over but the engine is able to start up without a problem, the battery is typically the cause. If the battery has an extremely low charge, there may be a clicking noise when you try to start up the engine. It will also result in the vehicle not starting because the power in the battery is so low.

 

You might notice if the headlights are dimmer than they used to be, especially driving when it is dark out. Another sign is if the headlights fade while the vehicle is being started, or just after it has started. If you notice dimmer headlights or if they are dimming as you travel, make sure to bring your vehicle in a soon as possible so we can inspect it over for any issues. This can help you to rest assured that the battery is reliable when you travel.

 

Another way to tell if the battery is dying is to turn the key in the ignition until the electrical accessories turn on. These include the radio or power windows. If the battery is running low, some or all of these accessories will be slow and sluggish. The windows will roll up or down slower than normal. If the accessories do not come on at all, the battery is completely dead and will need to be recharged or replaced. You can help the battery by remembering to turn off all the electrical accessories before shutting off your vehicle. This way when you start it, the vehicle does not need to send power to the radio, heater, and other things.