5 FAQs on Car Battery Replacement
Here are some common battery-related questions:Â
1. What Is a Car Battery?
An auto battery stores power to start your car and run the vehicle’s electrical system.Â
2. How Long Do Car Batteries Last?
The average battery lifespan is between 3 and 5 years. However, it may vary based on its type and vehicle usage. For example:
- A standard lead-acid battery: lasts 3 to 5 yearsÂ
- An SLI battery: lasts 3 to 6 years
- AGM batteries: last for up to 7 years
3. Is a Battery Replacement Covered Under a Car Warranty?
Car batteries are wear-and-tear products that aren’t covered by an extended warranty. However, many batteries come with the manufacturer’s coverage.Â
4. What Causes a Car Battery to Drain Fast?
Here are some factors that can drain battery life quickly:
- Battery age: Old car batteries won’t hold charge for long.
- Extreme temperatures: Heat and cold temperatures can cause the battery to malfunction or work harder, making it drain faster.
- Car accessories: Keeping headlights, interior lights, and electronic accessories running can drain the battery unnecessarily.Â
- Faulty alternator: A malfunctioning alternator won’t charge the battery adequately, which can lead to faster battery drain. Â
- Parasitic draws: Small electrical loads can drain battery life even when the engine is off.Â
- Limited vehicle use: Not driving every day can stop the battery from charging fully.Â
Note: If your car battery dies en route, you can call for roadside assistance. You’ll have to provide them with personal information like your name and location, and they’ll come to jump-start your car.
5. How to Replace a Car Battery?
Replacing a dead battery is tricky, so it’s best to let professionals handle the replacement.
Here’s how an auto repair mechanic will perform a car battery replacement service:
- Open the hood and locate the old battery.
- Disconnect the dead car battery cable from its respective battery terminal. They’ll first remove the negative cable from the negative terminal, and then the positive cable from the positive terminal.Â
- Detach the dead car battery and clean the tray along with the connectors (terminals).Â
- Place the new battery in the tray.
- Reconnect the positive cable to the positive terminal and the negative battery cable to the negative battery terminal.Â
- Close the hood and conduct battery testing.Â
Note: After the car battery installation, they’ll send the bad unit to a battery recycling agency that treats discarded car batteries.