Does Your Ford Need a New Car Battery?

Your car’s battery is responsible for providing the electrical power to start your car. It also provides power for the electrical systems when your engine isn’t running. A battery has a limited lifespan and is usually replaced within three to five years. When you need a new car battery, your Ford dealer in Riverside, CA, can install it for you. These are signs you may need a new battery

Sign You Need a New Car Battery From Your Ford Dealer

Corrosion on the Terminals

A car battery contains a variety of chemicals, including sulfuric acid. These chemicals react with the copper and other battery components to store electricity as chemical energy. As your battery ages, these chemicals gradually break down. Sulfuric acid releases hydrogen as it breaks down, and hydrogen molecules are small enough to escape the battery.

The hydrogen mixes with sulfur gas in your engine, forming hydrogen sulfide. This chemical is toxic and corrosive, and it’s drawn to the battery terminals. The gas will slowly corrode these terminals, creating a white, gray, or green acidic salt as it does so. We’ll examine your battery, and if the terminals are corroded, we’ll replace them immediately.

Worn Alternator

One of the alternator’s functions is to recharge your battery. The recharging process starts as soon as your engine is running. The battery uses a large part of its stored energy to start your car, and it depends on recharging from a healthy alternator to replace this energy. If your alternator is wearing out, it may not be supplying enough power to the battery.

Each time your battery is recharged by a worn alternator, it will become slightly weaker. This is because a worn alternator can’t supply enough power to the electrical system, reducing the recharging level. As your battery gets weaker, starting will become more difficult. Our technicians will examine the alternator, and we can replace it if it’s failing.

Loose Battery Cables

This is a problem that can be easy to overlook. Two strong cables connect the positive and negative terminals on your battery that the electrical system, These cables allow power to flow through to the starter and for the battery to recharge. Electrical connections must be tight and secure, as any gap creates resistance to electrical flow.

The subtle vibrations in the engine as your car moves can gradually loosen the cables. A loose cable connection will reduce or prevent your battery from charging, and also prevent it from supplying the charge to start your engine. We’ll examine the connections and tighten or replace them depending on the situation.

A dead battery can leave you waiting for a jump start. Call our service center today at Fritts Ford.

Tags: battery, car service, Ford
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