Does Your Mazda Need a New Car Battery?

Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your Mazda Dealer

The Battery Is Old

On average, a car battery will last for three to five years before it needs replacement. The battery stores electricity in the form of chemical energy. The chemical processes that allow the battery to store electricity will slowly fail as the chemicals themselves break down and recombine. A battery’s longevity is also reduced by extreme weather and even driving conditions.

A battery will always show some signs that it’s failing. Some of the signs of a failing battery include starting difficulties, dim lights, and random electrical issues when the engine is switched off. If you spot any of these signs, visit us for a battery test. We’ll connect your battery to our battery tester. This device subjects your battery to a variety of tests to determine its strength. If your battery is failing, we can easily replace it for you.

Warped Battery Casing

In a cold Ohio winter, you’ll notice that your battery takes longer than usual to start your engine. This issue is caused by the cold conditions reducing the battery strength. Extreme hot or cold weather for an extended period can result in more serious damage to a battery. The weather and changes in external pressure affect the battery chemicals and can cause the casing to distort.

The chemicals inside the battery can’t escape as the pressure in the battery changes. The increase in internal pressure can cause the battery casing to warp. The damaged battery casing will reduce the battery strength, and this can illuminate the check battery light on the dash. If you pop the hood and see your battery is distorted, it’s time to visit us for a replacement.

Rotten Egg Smell

Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs and is a dangerous and corrosive chemical. It can form in your engine when the battery starts to fail. As sulfuric acid in the battery breaks down, it releases hydrogen. Hydrogen gas can escape the battery, where it joins with sulfur in the engine to form hydrogen sulfide.

This new chemical is drawn to the positive and negative battery terminals, and it will slowly corrode them. The corrosion will cause further damage to the battery and make it more likely to fail. If you smell hydrogen sulfide, your battery is failing and will need to be replaced.

If your battery is failing, call us ASAP at Mazda of Wooster, and we’ll replace it for you.

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