Whether you’ve just purchased your Mazda, or you’ve been an owner for a while, eventually, you’re going to need a new car battery. Here is how often you’ll need to replace your battery and signs that your battery could be failing.
There are many factors that go into the life of a car battery, including the terrain you drive on, your climate, how many jump-starts you’ve needed, and how well you maintain your battery; but in general, we recommend that you replace your car’s battery every four or five years.
You can get a new battery at your dealership’s service center, where you’ll always get the exact part recommended for your specific vehicle and stellar service from a factory-trained technician.
Factors That Shorten a Battery’s Life
Terrain
Vibrations break down a battery’s internal parts, so if you drive on rough terrain frequently, your battery is likely to fail sooner than if you travel on highways and other paved roads. Always make sure your battery’s clamps are as tight as possible to prevent vibration during normal driving conditions and to minimize vibrations on rougher terrain.
Climate
Living in a hot climate will cause you to have to replace your car’s battery more often than if you lived in a cold environment. The reason behind this is that heat causes the liquids contained in a car’s battery to evaporate.
Without these liquids, the battery cannot function and will need to be replaced. Unfortunately, these fluids cannot be refilled, so you’ll have to get a new battery when this happens.
Jump Starts
Each time you get your car jump started because the battery’s charge has run down, you shorten your battery’s life. As such, always make sure to turn your headlights off, don’t leave your interior lights on, and get all electrical issues repaired right away.
If you have a defective alternator, you’ll also need to get that fixed or replaced as well. Otherwise, it will fail to charge your battery, requiring a jump start.
Poor Maintenance
You also need to take care of your battery to make sure it can be charged properly when your vehicle is running. Make sure corrosion does not build up on the terminals and that the clamps that hold your battery stay tight.
Every six months or so, check the acid levels to check for acid stratification, which will prevent your battery from receiving a full charge. Keep your battery cables tied so they don’t move around and become loose.
Signs Your Battery Is Failing
The best way to know if you need a new battery is to bring your car in to have the battery tested at your service center. Otherwise, you might notice your headlights are dim or flickering, you have to jump-start your car often, your engine hesitates before starting, or you notice other electrical components experiencing power fluctuations. Any of these signs should get you into the service center as soon as possible.
If your battery dies completely, you’ll be stranded. Don’t let this happen to you. Bring your car into Flood Mazda today for a battery inspection.
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