Maintaining a vehicle is important – not just to your safety and enjoyment, but to the life of your vehicle and its future resale value. The team at Pennyrile Ford can help you with some advice on how to keep your car in top shape.
Question: How do I know if my battery is dead?
Answer: Your car battery helps kickstart your engine. It also powers your electrical features even when those features are off. Most importantly, a good battery makes sure your vehicle is not stranded!
All batteries lose their spark eventually. When it happens, you may hear a slow engine crank when you start your car, you might see the check engine or battery light pop up on your dash. Or you might see corrosion on the top of the battery, or you might smell a foul odor. Any of these are a sign your battery is on its last legs, and you need to get to a shop immediately.
What wears down a battery? Mileage and age are major factors. Over time, the battery’s energy source wears out. Being parked without the engine being started for long periods of time or experiencing extreme temperatures can also shorten battery life. Did you know that hotter climates tend to kill a battery faster than cooler climates? It’s true.
Don’t forget! Don’t leave your interior lights on overnight! That’s a common cause for a battery being drained by the time you try to start your car in the morning.
You should play it safe and have your battery checked every time you change your oil. A technician can tell you how much life is left in your battery so you can replace it before you end up stranded in a parking lot, out of town, or on the side of a highway.
At Pennyrile Ford, a battery check is part of every service. In fact, you will receive a multi-point inspection that shows you the health of your vehicle. It is coded in red, yellow and green so that you can quickly determine how healthy your vehicle is.
For more, check out the Pennyrile Ford battery service page, or click here for our current auto service specials.
You can also call 270-886-8556 or come see us at Pennyrile Ford, 5505 Fort Campbell Blvd., Hopkinsville, KY 42240.