If you rely on your car, few things can mess up your day like a dead battery—especially if it occurs away from the home.
A battery can fail at any time, but it’s more likely to have its power zapped during periods of temperature extremes, either hot or cold.
But if you pay a little bit of attention to how your car is behaving, you might be able to pick up on a potential problem before you end up stranded.
Far Rockaway Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five signs of a dying car battery to be on the lookout for.
- Listen for Trouble When Car Starts
If you’ve had a dead battery before, you know the dreaded clicking and whining sounds that accompany one. So when you’re starting your car, take mental notes if the ignition takes a few seconds to turn over before it starts. In addition, if the ignition is making a grinding or clicking noise before the car starts, you may want to have the battery checked.
- Electrical Trouble While the Car is Running
If you’re noticing issues with electronics in the car—lights, radio, heated seats, cell phone chargers—while the vehicle is running, the top two culprits are the battery and alternator. Watch for dimming lights and other features not working as they should.
- Distinct Smell When Opening Hood
If you notice a smell of rotten eggs under and around the hood, this can be a sign of a dying battery or other mechanical problems in the car.
- Watch the Warning Light
If the battery warning light stays on after all of the other lights turn off when you start your car, your car is trying to tell you something!
- The Age of the Battery
Once a battery reaches the three-year mark, it needs closer inspection. That includes a visual once-over for any cracks, bulges, or corrosion.
To learn more about Far Rockaway Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://far-rockaway-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.
