The battery and electrical system of your car are a fundamental part of your vehicle that you don’t want to fail and find yourself stranded. In these moments, knowing about these parts may be a lifesaver. That´s why we´ve decided to share information so you can better understand your car.

A battery usually lasts around 3 to 5 years, but if it is exposed to extreme elements or some driving habits, its life may be shortened. Sometimes a little test may be enough to know how much battery life you have left.

So, how exactly does a car battery work?

The battery powers the necessary to make all the electrical components in your car work, and without battery power, the vehicle is unable to start. What this little box does is convert chemical energy into electrical energy, delivering voltage to the starter, and it also stabilizes the voltage to keep the engine running after the first contact.

Symptoms & Procedures

Thankfully, various symptoms warn about the conditions of your battery and tell us when it needs to be replaced.

Checking how old is your battery.

On the cover of your battery, you will find a four- or five-digit date code. First look for the letter and digit. The letter is assigned to each month and the number that follows indicates the year [as in 9 for 2009 and 1 for 2011]. These two elements tell you when the battery was shipped. Considering that batteries last around three to five years, you can use this data to make an approximation of how much time your battery has.

Other signs you might look out for:

Other signs you might look out for can be a slow engine crank, low fluid level, the case of the battery being swollen or bloated, a scent of rotting egg coming from the battery, or the check your engine light appearing. If any of these signs show up, or three years have passed, consider checking with professionals or changing your battery.

Electrical Systems

Can a bad battery harm the charging system or starter?

If you have a weak battery, your car suffers additional stress. The charging systems, starter motor, or the starter solenoid may be affected, as they are drawing excessive voltage to compensate for the low battery power, which can lead to malfunctions of these parts. Leaving this problem unresolved may be expensive in the long run, having to replace expensive electrical parts without warning.

Is your alternator not giving your battery enough electricity?

There are some obvious symptoms that this is the case, like a strange flickering on the lights or warning lights like “check engine”. These malfunctions happen when the battery is struggling to provide power, and if the alternator is faulty, the battery cannot be charged anymore, meaning that your battery is close to stopping working at all.

A slow crank can mean your alternator isn’t charging your battery correctly. If the electric system of your car is starting to fail too, stop in the nearest service facility, as your car is moments away from a dead battery and alternator.

If any of the above is happening, inspect your battery and car, so you can save your car from further damage.