How Often Should You Get Your Toyota a New Car Battery?

When you first buy your Toyota from a Salisbury, NC dealership, you aren’t thinking about replacing the battery. In fact, you might not even worry about it until all of a sudden, the battery is dead. However, to prevent getting stranded on the side of the road with a car that won’t start, you should learn how often you should get a new car battery. 

Recommendations

Most car batteries need to be replaced every three to five years, but some fail sooner than that, while others last much longer. The trick is to know when your battery is failing so you can get it changed before it completely dies. Your battery will provide you with numerous signs that it’s wearing out, so don’t ignore them if you want your car to start every time you turn the key or press the start button.

Signs of a Failing Battery

In general, there’s no need to replace your car’s battery unless it is showing signs of wear. These signs usually start appearing within the recommended three-to-five-year replacement window, but they could show up earlier or later as well. If you recognize any of these signs, it’s time to get your car into a service center right away to have your battery tested, and, if necessary, replaced before it fully fails and leaves you stranded without a working car.

Your Battery Light Comes On

This is the most obvious sign that your battery needs to be replaced. Your car is a sensitive piece of equipment, especially if it’s a newer model. It can detect when something’s wrong before you notice any outward symptoms. So, if your battery light on your dashboard illuminates, take it seriously. Bring your vehicle into a service center and get the battery tested. Your technician will let you know if it needs to be replaced.

Your Car Struggles to Start

If you turn your ignition key or press the start button and your engine doesn’t fire right up, you may have a battery problem. Typically, your battery carries enough charge while not running to start your car the next time you want it to start. However, if it’s not able to remain charged while sitting without the engine running, it means your battery is starting to wear down. This is specifically true if your car stays running while you drive.

Note that if your car stalls while you’re driving, the problem may not be your battery, but your alternator instead. The alternator charges your battery while the car is running, so if it’s not working properly, the battery won’t get the charge it needs to keep your car running, even when the battery itself is fine. A factory-trained technician can determine whether the problem is your battery or your alternator by running an engine diagnostic test.

Your Headlights and Other Electronics Flicker or Fade

When your battery isn’t getting enough juice, your headlights and other electronics may not operate properly. This is because all the battery’s charge is going to keeping your car running and not to any non-essential components like lights, the radio, and your device chargers. If your headlights are flickering, or your electronics aren’t working correctly, bring your car in for a battery test.

Without a good battery, the chances of your car breaking down increase significantly. Call Cloninger Toyota today to make an appointment for a battery test. If it needs to be replaced, we’ll do that, too.

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