In order for your vehicle’s electrical system to work properly a good healthy battery is essential. The primary purpose of the battery is to start the engine. But it is also used to stabilize power and provide extra power for the computers, modules, ignition, lighting and other accessories that when combined the load exceeds the capability of the charging system. Since our vehicles today are controlled by multiple computers and are equipped with so many electronic accessories, there are many different symptoms that can occur when there is a problem with the charging system of your vehicle.
Warning lights on the dash can illuminate, like the charging system light, brake light, abs (antilock brake system) light, srs (supplemental restraint system) light, and or the check engine light. Some of the symptoms the vehicle can exhibit are: vehicle will not crank when trying to start, a long starting crank time, exterior and interior lights dim or not working properly, engine and transmission performance can be compromised or have odd symptoms, and some of the electrical accessories may not work or will work intermittently.
If your vehicle is exhibiting any of these symptoms it is a good idea to have the vehicle inspected and tested. The starting/charging system of your vehicle should be tested at least every 6 months as regular maintenance.
With the advent of sophisticated battery testers, we can now test a battery for the initial state of charge, cold cranking amps available for starting vehicles engine, and the ability of the battery to hold an electrical load. When checking a battery, the overall appearance, condition of the battery, and the connections and cables to the battery are inspected too. If the battery test results are “fail or marginal” and the battery cannot be charged to a passing condition, or if the battery is leaking or has corrosion that cannot be cleaned, it is recommended to replace the battery.
Most new batteries are designed to last between 4 to 6 years. A good performance of the battery can depend on the type of driving and usage of the vehicle so it can vary somewhat. The benefit of replacing a battery before it fails is to reduce the possibility of a breakdown or a no start condition. A battery that is testing marginal can also cause more strain on the other components in the electrical system of the vehicle, like the starter and alternator. The starter relies on a fully charged battery to supply the needed amps to start the vehicle. The alternator is designed to keep the battery in a full state of charge, it is not designed to continually recharge the battery from a completely dead or a continual depleted state. Keeping a healthy battery in your vehicle can be more cost effective than waiting for a battery to fail or be completely used up. A good quality starter or alternator can be expensive to replace.
Extreme weather conditions hot or cold can accentuate a weakness in the starting/charging system of a vehicle. As we start into the summer months we recommend keeping the electrical system of your vehicle in good shape and have it tested and inspected for any weaknesses. When the heart of your electrical system is not testing in a good healthy state replace it to keep your vehicle reliable and not cause further issues down the road. Happy Motoring!
The post The Heart of Your Vehicle’s Electrical System is The Battery appeared first on All About Automotive.
