Bommarito Mazda West County

Jul 26, 2024

A dead battery will inevitably happen at the worst possible time. Fortunately, there are always signs that your battery is in trouble, and this gives you sufficient time to visit your Mazda dealer for a replacement. We’d like to tell you some signs that you’ll need a new car battery fairly soon.

3 Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your Mazda Dealer

Dead Battery

The average life of a battery is three to five years. This relatively short life is caused by the gradual, naturally occurring breakdown of sulfuric acid inside the battery. This breakdown reduces the battery’s electricity storage capacity and eventually prevents it from recharging. A battery can also die due to the failure of other electrical system components.

A weakening alternator, for example, won’t fully recharge the battery and ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​will slowly weaken. Loose or damaged battery cables or corroded terminals will also reduce or prevent recharging. Our technicians will examine and test your battery using our computerized battery tester. If an electrical fault has caused the failure, we’ll find and repair it. If the battery has failed due to age, we’ll install a new one.

Extreme Temperatures

The average battery works most efficiently under moderate external temperatures. Sustained extreme heat or cold causes failures within the battery and will cause it to die. Hot conditions, coupled with the natural high temperature within the engine, can cause the battery’s electrolyte solution to heat up and boil.

Extreme cold, in contrast, causes the electrolyte to freeze. This reduces battery capacity and makes starting the engine more difficult as the solution has to heat up. Our technicians will examine your battery and replace it if necessary. We can also recommend and supply batteries specifically designed to work under extreme temperature conditions.

Corroded Connectors

Corrosion not only damages metal, it interferes with electrical conductivity. An older battery is more susceptible to corrosion, as the sulfuric acid inside it releases hydrogen gas as it breaks down. The hydrogen gas joins with sulfur molecules to form hydrogen sulfide. This new chemical is toxic and corrosive and is drawn to the battery terminals, which rapidly start to corrode.

The corrosion will eventually destroy the battery terminals, but before this happens, battery recharging will become problematic. It forms a barrier that prevents electricity from easily passing into and out of the battery. We can clean the corrosion, but it will return if your battery is failing. Replacing your battery will end this problem.

We advise visiting us for a battery test when your battery is three years old. Our computerized tester can identify any possible weaknesses in the battery and provide a heads-up on its potential remaining life. Visit us today at Bommarito Mazda West Country in Ellisville, MO.