How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Wondering how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced? Learn how often to replace a car battery and more with the Allen Samuels CDJR Aransas Pass service center. Experts recommend you replace your battery about every 4-5 years, although, depending on several factors, battery life can vary. So, how much is a replacement car battery? Read on to learn more with Allen Samuels CDJR Aransas Pass near Corpus Christi.

How to Know If Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

If you’re wondering how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced, there are a few key warning signs:

• Dimming headlights
• More frequent need for engine revving or jump starts
• Takes longer to start the engine when you turn the key/push the button
• Unusual power fluctuations

What Causes Car Battery Deterioration?

If you’re wondering how often to replace a car battery, there are a few causes of car battery deterioration to keep an eye out for:

• Heat
• Road Vibrations
• Frequently Needing a Jump
• Time

For the best idea of how long your car battery should last for your Kingsville drives, consult your owner’s manual or maintenance schedule. 

How to Test a Car Battery

Need to know how to test a car battery? You can have your car battery tested during regular maintenance at your Port Lavaca-area service center. If you want to test it between that time, many retailers offer free tests. You can also test the battery at home.

The Headlight Test: 

1. Turn on the engine and make sure the headlights are on.
2. Rev the engine to see if the headlight brightness changes.
3. If the headlights get brighter, that means the current is not strong enough to keep the lights at normal brightness when the car is idling. 
4. Schedule service for further assessment.

Using a Digital Multimeter:

1. Set your voltmeter to 20 DC volts.
2. Touch the battery’s negative terminal (black) with the negative meter probe (also black).
3. Touch the positive terminal (red) with the positive meter probe (also red).
4. Have an assistant turn on the headlights and check the voltmeter reading.
5. At 80℉, 12.5 volts or higher means your battery is fully charged. 12.3 volts indicates a 75% charge.11.8 volts or lower indicates a 25% or less charge. 

How Much is a Replacement Car Battery? 

So, how much is a replacement car battery? The typical car battery cost can range from $75 to $120. A premium battery can cost up to $200. Hybrid car batteries can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $6,000, but this cost is offset by the much lower fuel costs.

Keep Your Vehicle in Top Shape at Allen Samuels CDJR Aransas Pass

When you are ready to replace your battery in Corpus Christi, visit Allen Samuels CDJR Aransas Pass! We can help you find the best oil change prices in Aransas Pass and more. Give our service center a call at (361) 371-4111 for any of your vehicle maintenance needs.