Wondering How Long Does A Car Battery Last?
Even though the car battery is one of the most important components of today’s modern vehicles, most people give it little or no thought when shopping for a new car. They are more interested in the engine capacity, fuel efficiency, size, and comfort level. Remember that the battery has to manage a long list of tasks and devices, from starting the engine to powering in-car computers.
Just as the batteries for your computer or smart-phone become less efficient with every charge, so your car battery gradually deteriorates every time it’s charged. Because the battery is often “out of sight, out of mind,” flat or damaged batteries are one of the top causes for roadside assistance calls. Or your battery may simply be too old for the job it needs to do.
Here are a few issues drivers should consider when thinking about car batteries:
- How is the auto electrical system responding? Features that have significant power demands, like headlights, may not function as well as they should.
- The newer your car, the bigger the battery drain. Many new cars have powerful computers that are operating all the time, even when the vehicle is parked and switched off, drawing energy from the battery at a slow, steady rate.
- Check your battery. The battery can go from 90% to 20% performance in a short period of time. Check the charge frequently to avoid breakdowns.
- Stop-start technology. Cars with engines that are designed to automatically switch off when at a standstill place a greater strain on their battery than standard vehicles and often need a special battery.
Although batteries can last for five years or more when properly cared for, most car batteries will become worn down and inefficient within three years of everyday use in normal conditions. They will become almost completely unreliable and unsafe. The relatively small price of a car battery replacement is worth the cost to avoid the stress of a roadside breakdown. Taking good care of your car battery is just as important as changing the oil, replacing filters and other maintenance items.
Wondering how long does a car battery last? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
Even though the car battery is one of the most important components of today’s modern vehicles, most people give it little or no thought when shopping for a new car. They are more interested in the engine capacity, fuel efficiency, size, and comfort level. Remember that the battery has to manage a long list of tasks and devices, from starting the engine to powering in-car computers.
Just as the batteries for your computer or smart-phone become less efficient with every charge, so your car battery gradually deteriorates every time it’s charged. Because the battery is often “out of sight, out of mind,” flat or damaged batteries are one of the top causes for roadside assistance calls. Or your battery may simply be too old for the job it needs to do.
Here are a few issues drivers should consider when thinking about car batteries:
- How is the auto electrical system responding? Features that have significant power demands, like headlights, may not function as well as they should.
- The newer your car, the bigger the battery drain. Many new cars have powerful computers that are operating all the time, even when the vehicle is parked and switched off, drawing energy from the battery at a slow, steady rate.
- Check your battery. The battery can go from 90% to 20% performance in a short period of time. Check the charge frequently to avoid breakdowns.
- Stop-start technology. Cars with engines that are designed to automatically switch off when at a standstill place a greater strain on their battery than standard vehicles and often need a special battery.
Although batteries can last for five years or more when properly cared for, most car batteries will become worn down and inefficient within three years of everyday use in normal conditions. They will become almost completely unreliable and unsafe. The relatively small price of a car battery replacement is worth the cost to avoid the stress of a roadside breakdown. Taking good care of your car battery is just as important as changing the oil, replacing filters and other maintenance items.
Wondering how long does a car battery last? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
