Your Ford needs its battery to provide the electrical charge to start the engine. The battery will eventually wear out or get damaged, and you'll need a new car battery. As your Ford dealer, we can easily fit a replacement for you. These are some of the signs that your battery could be failing.
Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your Ford Dealer
Difficulty Starting
When you start your car, the battery sends an electrical charge to the solenoid in the starter. This powers the starter, which then proceeds to crank your engine. Once the crank starts, your engine should immediately spring to life. If instead, you hear your engine laboring as it cranks the engine repeatedly, you could have a battery problem.
When a battery ages its maximum charging ability decreases, and it's more difficult to retain a charge. This combination of events means that your battery may not be able to provide a strong enough charge for the solenoid. Your battery will need to build up enough strength to provide the extra power the starter needs.
Your Battery Is Three Years Old
An average battery will last between three and five years. This lifespan is influenced by environmental factors, driving habits, and driving conditions. Your battery's life can be shortened by other components, like a worn-out alternator.
If your battery is at least three years old, we advise bringing your car into our service department so we can test the battery. We'll hook your battery to our battery tester and subject it to various trials. These trials will measure its strength and possible longevity. After the test, our tester provides a full report on your battery. If your battery is weak, we can replace it immediately for you.
Your Battery Is Corroded
One of the most obvious signs of a failing battery is corrosion. Corrosion is caused by the breakdown of the chemicals in your battery. Sulfuric acid in the battery helps it to recharge and to retain electricity. As your battery ages, sulfuric acid breaks down and releases hydrogen gas. This gas will escape the confines of your battery case and change into hydrogen sulfide in your engine.
Hydrogen sulfide is a foul-smelling corrosive gas that's drawn to the positive and negative terminals on your battery. It will react with the electricity in the terminals and change into an acidic salt. This salt will gradually eat through your battery. If you pop the hood and see white, gray, or green salt-like material around your battery, corrosion has started. A corroded battery will need a replacement right away.
If you have a weak battery, don't delay, call us today at Ken Ganley Ford. Our technicians will fit a new one for you.