Pretty much everyone will experience the horror and frustration of a car that won’t start at least once or twice. A dead car battery can leave you stranded with no idea where to turn for help. Once your new car battery is installed, it’s important to know how long the battery will last before needing to replace it again. You don’t want to find yourself stranded again!

Your Battery’s Life Span

Car batteries don’t last forever. While regular, lead-acid car batteries are maintenance-free, it’s still important to know ahead of time how long your battery will last before you need to replace it. However, with so many different brands, types, and qualities of batteries available, there is no set estimate of a battery’s life span.

Battery life depends on the battery’s quality, and many experts and mechanics agree that three to five years seems to be the average life span. Some experts recommend that car owners replace their car battery after four years no matter the current condition, but it’s always better to test the battery first. Every battery’s life span is different, and some will last longer than others. Testing out the battery is the only way to know the strength of your battery and if it’s wearing down and needs to be replaced.

While there is no exact expiration date for car batteries and no definite way to know how long it will last, there are still ways to tell if you need to replace your battery soon. Instead of getting stranded with a vehicle that won’t start, look out for:

• Dimming headlights
• Frequent need for revving and jump-starting
• Strain in cold weather
• Power fluctuations

Your car may show some of these signs if your battery is nearing the end of its life. Check the battery warranty and when it was manufactured to figure out how old it is and determine if a replacement is needed.

How to Prolong Your Battery’s Life

While car battery replacement is inevitable, there are ways that you can prolong your battery’s life. Over time, your battery will inevitably start to weaken, but there are many factors that you can adjust to improve your battery’s life and prevent it from failing prematurely:

• Properly secure your battery. Vibrations and rough travel can impair normal functioning, so make sure the clamps are on tight.
• Turn headlights off while parked. This preventative action will help keep your battery fully charged since you only need headlights while driving.
• Routine Maintenance. Check your battery every time you check your oil to test its quality and strength.

Professional Auto Repair

When your car battery dies and needs to be replaced, some car owners try and fix the issue by themselves, which can be ineffective and even dangerous! Leave it to the professionals and take your vehicle to an auto repair service.

At Aarrow Transmission, our automotive service experts can replace your battery with a brand new one, and you don’t have to lift a finger! Changing a battery can be unsafe for an amateur mechanic considering the live currents that need to be worked around.  We have the skills and knowledge to get the job done right, so you don’t have to risk replacing the battery yourself.

If your vehicle won’t start, instead of the standard “auto service near me” search, call Aarrow Transmission. We’ll fix the issue and have your car rolling out of the lot in no time!