Are your headlights and other vehicle electronics suddenly fading? Are you struggling to start the engine in the morning? If so, your battery might be on its last legs. If you’re currently experiencing the following battery-related issues, you might need to visit your nearest Toyota dealer for a new car battery before your car refuses to start at all.
Misbehaving Electronics
Similarly, if only one of your car’s electronic accessories stops working, it might have a fault. If several of your electronics start malfunctioning at the same time, check the condition of your battery.
Slow Engine Starts
One of the most important functions of the battery is to deliver a strong charge to the starter and spark plugs when you start the engine. An aging or damaged battery will struggle to provide the necessary voltage, making it harder to start your car.
Misfiring Spark Plugs
When the engine’s running, the battery also supplies the ignition coils and spark plugs with electricity, allowing the cylinders to fire. Therefore, a failing car battery might also lead to misfiring spark plugs. This will cause your engine to cough and sputter.
Warped Battery Casing
You can pop the hood to visually check the condition of your car battery. If the casing walls are perfectly straight, it might still be fine. However, if the casing has become warped in any way, the battery will probably have to go.
Signs of Corrosion
Also, look for white or green corrosion on the terminals at the top of the battery. A battery with corroded terminals won’t be able to send full voltage to the other car parts. You might be able to clean a little corrosion, but excessive corrosion usually spells the end for the battery.
Rotten Egg Smell
If a battery becomes severely damaged, it can crack open and leak battery acid. This creates a strong sulfury, rotten egg stench that you’re likely to smell from inside your car. A leaking battery should always be replaced.
Ask Your Toyota Dealer To Test Your Car Battery
You can have your car battery tested at any time at your local dealership. As car batteries tend to last from three to five years on average, it’s a good idea to have your battery tested more frequently once it reaches three years of age.
Visit Bill Page Toyota in Falls Church, VA, today to have your battery examined or replaced by experienced technicians. We’ve been providing the region’s drivers with great cars, great deals, and great service since 1969.
