How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Whether you’re driving a brand new Honda or you’ve got a trusty daily driver, its battery will eventually need to be replaced. Your vehicle’s battery is a vital component of its electrical system so that you won’t be left stranded on the side of the road near Sparta Twp.

With that being said, do you know how often you need to replace a car battery? While the answer can vary, most car batteries will need to be replaced every four to five years. However, there are a number of factors you should be aware of. Today, the service experts at Sussex Honda will help you learn more about your car battery by going over the following:

• How often do you need to replace a car battery?
• What causes car batteries to break down?
• How to know if your car battery needs to be replaced
• How to test a car battery
• How much is a replacement car battery?

What Causes Your Battery to Break Down?

No matter how much you service your vehicle, there are external factors at play that’ll likely cause your vehicle’s battery to break down. Some of these factors can include:

• Temperature: Extremely cold or hot temperatures can cause your vehicle’s battery to work harder or overheat, leading to a shorter lifespan.
• Rough Roads: Bumps and vibrations from the rough roads around Hackettstown could cause your battery clamps to come loose. As it loosens, the internal parts will wear down quicker.
• Jump Starts: Avoid jump-starting your battery as much as possible as it will decrease your battery life.
• Time: Inevitably, most car batteries have a specific charge cycle and with time it’ll need to be replaced.

Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Car Battery

With your battery regularly breaking down, how do you know if your car battery needs to be replaced? We suggest you schedule a service appointment with our experts regularly to keep an eye on your battery life. However, there are some things you can look out for as you drive around Denville. Here’s how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced:

• Dimmed headlights
• Regular need for jump starts
• Car takes longer to start
• Sporadic power levels

2 Methods On How to Test a Car Battery

If you’re noticing any signs that your car battery needs to be replaced but you’re just not sure how to test a car battery, we’ve got you covered. There are two main methods you can follow, both of which can be done in your own Newton garage. Let’s take a look at how to test a car battery below:

Headlight Test

1. With your vehicle in park, start your car.
2. Turn the headlights on.
3. While revving the engine, pay attention to your headlight brightness levels.
4. If your headlights get brighter when you’re revving, it’s not getting enough power when your car is idling, meaning you’ll likely need a new battery.

Digital Multimeter Test

1. Turn your voltmeter to 20 DC volts.
2. Using the negative probe on the meter, touch the negative battery terminal.
3. Touch the positive battery terminal with the positive probe on the meter.
4. Turn your vehicle’s headlights on.
5. At around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, take note of your meter readings. 12.5 volts or higher means your battery is fully charged, 12.3 volts means it’s around 75% charged, and 11.8 volts or less means you have 25% or less of charge.

What Will a Battery Replacement Cost?

With your vehicle showing signs that it needs a battery replacement, how much is a replacement car battery? If you’re driving a regular vehicle, the cost can range anywhere from $75 to $120. However, a premium battery could be up to $200. Additionally, hybrid vehicle batteries are much more expensive and can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000.

Keep in mind though that a hybrid vehicle battery will need to be replaced less and provide increased fuel efficiency. Of course, before you research, “How much is a replacement car battery?”, keep in mind that the answer can vary depending on your specific vehicle!

Maintain Your Ride Today With Sussex Honda!

From battery replacements to other involved services, you can count on Sussex Honda to maintain your ride. If you’re ready to get expert service from a professional team, feel free to contact us online!