Cars are a very handy form of transport. However, if you have a dead battery, you won’t be going very far!
Your battery is essential so you can use things such as your lights and radio, but most importantly it powers your car’s ignition system.
If your battery is dead, your car won’t start, so be sure to look after it and prevent draining it unnecessarily.
How does a car battery die?
There are many ways that batteries can die or lose power quickly. For example, if your car is not running and you are listening to the radio or using your lights, this can heavily affect the battery life.
If you do not use your car often, or there are extreme changes in temperature, these can affect your battery life as well. Also, if your car has not been used for over 6 months it is quite likely you will have to jump-start it.
A battery can also die due to an internal fault, so be sure to buy a trustworthy brand. Here at Tivoli Auto Services, we can recommend and install the best battery for your car.
How long should batteries normally last?
In an ideal world, your battery should last anywhere from 3-5 years at best, but it will all come down to how you use it.
We recommend that when it gets to around 3 years old you start to have battery performance checks undertaken, to make sure it is working at optimal levels.
To prevent your battery from draining quicker than it should, be sure to only use the radio and your lights when your car is running, and try to use your car often (perhaps once a week or every 2 weeks), even if you don’t need to use it for work and at the weekends.
Signs your battery is dying
If your car is becoming increasingly difficult to start, and taking a while to get running, it could then need a new battery. If you do not address this, you could eventually hear a clicking sound, meaning there is not enough power to start the engine.
Another sign of a weak battery is your electrics not performing optimally. You may see your lights are becoming dimmer, or your heater and electric windows not acting as they should.
Tivoli Auto Services
We are an independent garage based in Hastings, St. Leonards. If you have any issues with your car battery, or need a service or MOT, bring your car down to our garage and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help.
Contact us today on 01424 442277 to get your car booked in. We are here to give any advice to help you get the most out of your vehicle.