Getting a New Car Battery for Your Mazda

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As time passes, your car battery will slowly weaken due to the chemical processes inside it that allow it to store electricity. The electricity in the battery is used to power your car systems when your engine is switched off. This energy is also used to start your engine. At your Mazda dealership, we can replace your battery when it wears out. These are some signs that you may need a new car battery.

Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your Mazda Dealership

Your Battery Is Old

The average lifespan of a battery is three to five years. Under ideal conditions, it could last for six years. It is also possible for a battery to fail earlier due to exposure to extreme heat or cold. A battery can also fail due to other problems, for example, overcharging by a damaged alternator. An older battery’s electrical storage capacity drops, and it won’t supply the level of electricity it once did.

An older battery will take longer to start your engine, and you’ll also experience problems like dim headlights and electrical failures. We can test your battery to determine if this is the problem. If our battery tester confirms that your battery is failing, we can install a new battery for you.

Loose Cables

Your battery is securely connected to the electrical system by two cables that connect to its positive and negative terminals. The cables allow the battery to supply power and also to recharge. They will move slightly when you’re driving, and over time, these slight movements can cause a small gap between the cable connectors and the terminals.

Electricity can’t flow through a gap, and this will quickly cause battery problems. The battery won’t receive or supply electricity, and without this electricity, your car won’t start. Our technicians can easily tighten the connectors to fix this problem. This problem won’t damage your battery, so it won’t be necessary to replace it.

Corroded Terminals

Corrosion can quickly destroy the battery terminals. It’s an acidic salt that can be blue, gray, or green, and it forms around the terminals of a weakening battery. This acidic salt is created by hydrogen sulfide, which is drawn to the battery terminals. Hydrogen sulfide isn’t naturally present in an engine. It forms as the sulfuric acid in your battery breaks down.

Sulfuric acid releases hydrogen as it breaks down, and the hydrogen joins with sulfur vapor in the engine. These two chemicals form hydrogen sulfide which has a characteristic rotten egg smell. If you smell rotten eggs, your terminals may already be corroding. Corrosion can be temporarily removed with a steel brush, but it will return as your battery is failing. We’ll replace your battery with a new one to fix this problem.

If you have a battery problem, visit our service department today at Royal Moore Mazda.

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