Almost every driver experiences a dead battery at one time or another. As your Lexus dealer in Englewood, NJ, we want to prevent you from being one of those drivers. These are a few signs that your battery is wearing out, and you need to visit us for a new car battery.
Driving in Englewood, NJ: Worn Car Battery Signs
Bad Smell From the Engine
One characteristic of a failing battery is a bad smell from the engine compartment. The battery stores electricity as chemical energy, and it does this through a complex process of chemical reactions. All chemicals break down as they react, including sulfuric acid, the most important chemical in a battery. When sulfuric acid breaks down, it releases tiny hydrogen atoms.
Hydrogen atoms escape the confines of the battery casing and mix with sulfur in the engine to form hydrogen sulfide. This new chemical has a strong rotten egg smell. If our battery releases hydrogen, it’s worn out and close to failing. We can’t repair the damage but can install a new battery to fix the problem.
Old Battery
As we’ve seen, the chemicals in a battery slowly break down, and this causes the battery to fail. On average, a battery has a useful lifespan of three to six years. The battery’s lifespan can shorten due to environmental factors, driving conditions, and damage to other engine components. Under the right circumstances, a good battery could last up to six years.
A battery is unlikely to fail with no warning, as there are usually always signs it’s weakening. Some common signs are dim headlights and cabin lights when your engine is switched off and starting problems. These issues could also be due to other circumstances. Our expert technicians will test your battery and either replace it or fix the cause of the problem if the battery is in good condition.
Phantom Drain
Your battery might work normally when you arrive home and could be almost dead the next morning. This particular problem is caused by an electrical system fault known as a phantom drain. It occurs when one or more systems that should shut down continue to operate and drain the battery’s energy.
The glove box light and the trunk light are the two main causes of a phantom drain. These lights should switch off when their lids are closed, but a fault in the circuit can keep them on and drawing power. We’ll trace the electrical flow in your Lexus to find the cause of the drain and then repair it.
Schedule a Battery Replacement in NJ Today
A failing battery causes a variety of other problems. If your battery is at least three years old or showing signs of trouble, call us right away at DARCARS Lexus of Englewood. We can replace the battery in your Lexus in no time!
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