How Long Does a Car Battery Last?

How Long Does a Car Battery Last?

Batteries can be tricky. Sometimes they give a warning about impending failure.  Other times there are no clues at all. While batteries can’t live forever, there are some things you can do which will shorten its life, so it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of your battery and doing your best to preserve its lifetime.

Read on to learn more about car battery replacement, symptoms and causes of battery failure, and ways to prevent it from happening.

Battery Lifetimes

Car batteries typically last between 3 to 5 years. While you might be tempted to exceed this time limit if your battery seems to be working great, it’s important to keep these expiration dates in mind as pushing your battery too far past its expiration date might cause a sudden and highly inconvenient failure without any warning signs.

This is why many manufacturers suggest having your battery replaced after that 5-year date. Additionally, once you hit the 3-year mark, you should be getting your battery regularly tested, as well as your charging system, just to make sure everything is in working order and that there won’t be any surprise failures. 

Car Battery Expiration

There are many reasons why a battery might fail. Your car battery is used to provide a quick high-powered current to start your car and maintain this charge to the alternator while the car is on the road.

However, if your car experiences the following issues, there will be problems with your battery in maintaining charge or supplying the proper current. 

• Structural Failure: The life of a car battery is not an easy one, given that it’s constantly subject to things like intense temperature changes or being jostled around from rough road conditions. These conditions might lead to internal structural failure due to loss of electrolyte casing and exposure to air. One moment your battery might seem fine, and the next it simply won’t take a charge and must be replaced. 

• Slow Discharging: When a car battery is left alone over a long period of time, there is a drain on the battery, and it is discharged beyond its starting cycle. This means that the battery must be recharged – or the car jumped – which is not meant to happen. If this happens too frequently, the battery might lose its ability to recharge. This is also why time is one of the main causes of battery failure, as a car battery might lose the ability to be recharged after many years of usage. 

• Alternator Failure/Rapid Discharge: The battery’s source for maintaining charge is an alternator, and when that fails, a rapid discharge or overcharge can happen. Overcharging of the battery from an alternator can cause electrolytes to boil over and leak, which in turn causes battery failure. 

Symptoms of Battery Failure

While battery failure might not always come with warning signs, it is important to know the indicators of potential battery failure. Properly prepare yourself and get things checked out before it is an emergency. Signs of potential battery failure include the following:

• If you notice that your car is dragging and slow to start, then it is definitely time to get it tested. This might be caused by drastic temperature changes. However, it could also be from a parasitic drain, so you should seek professional support if this is the case.

• Any signs of leaking or corrosion on the terminals should lead to a check. Leakage might signal overcharging and corrosion could impact the terminals of the battery. So, if your battery looks like it is in bad shape then it might be time to get it replaced before sudden failure one day.

• Bad smells can also be a warning sign. If you’re smelling the rotten egg scent of sulfuric acid, this might indicate an overcharged battery or some internal battery failure; it should be checked immediately. 

• If your car will not start, then it is important to get it checked out rather than just getting a jump. While going about your day may be tempting, it is important to investigate what exactly is going on rather than just hoping it will not happen again!

Car battery testing and replacement does not have to be a hassle.  At Fred’s Auto Repair our expert auto technicians will walk you through the process in an easy and efficient manner. We offer top-quality service and even have partnerships with local businesses to make sure you are well taken care of while you wait for service.

Whether your battery is past its 5-year mark, or you are experiencing the warning signs, book an appointment with us today so we can support you with all your car battery needs.