If your car, truck, or SUV’s car battery is dying naturally, you might see signs of its impending doom. If there is something wrong with the car battery, it could die on you without warning. Mike’s Auto Service & Repair can test your battery if you notice any of the following six signs of trouble. If it’s not the battery, we’ll test your starter and alternator, too, to isolate the electrical system issue.
Dimming Lights
You’re driving home from work and it’s after dark. You notice your headlights seem a little dim; you just can’t see as well as you normally do. Dimming headlights are a sign that your battery is dying. Dimming headlights are also a sign of alternator trouble, so it’s best to have both checked.
Ignition Clicking
Another sign of a dying battery is a clicking sound when you try to start your car, truck, or SUV. The sound could be your battery or it could be your starter. Sometimes, you’ll hear the clicking first and then the vehicle will turnover and start. If this is the case, get the battery checked right away.
Cranking But No Start
Another sign your battery is losing its ability to hold a charge is engine cranking. You’ve heard the sound; the slow whir, whir, whir, whir and then the vehicle won’t start. This also indicates the battery isn’t holding a charge, so head to an automotive service shop to get a new battery.
Backfires
It might seem odd but your vehicle backfiring could be a sign that your battery is compromised. A vehicle backfires when the spark plugs are not firing as they should and fuel builds up in engine cylinders. This is usually caused by carburetor trouble but it can also be the battery.
Dead in the Morning
No, we don’t mean your “dead” in the morning because you partied to much the night before. Your vehicle may have run fine when you came home from the night before but it won’t start the following morning. This could be your battery, especially if you forgot to turn off your headlights.
Car Needs Help Starting
Finally, if you have to really pump the accelerator to flood the engine and get it started you may have a battery, carburetor, or fuel pump problem. We can isolate which of these problems it is and fix it because you shouldn’t have to flood your engine with gasoline to get it started.
Battery trouble? Call Mike’s Auto Service & Repair in West Springfield, MA.
