How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Do you know how often to replace a car battery? It depends on the various factors that affect battery life, but experts typically recommend a battery replacement every 4 to 5 years. This guide from Mazda of Escondido explains when to replace the car battery in your Mazda, why it needs to be replaced, and more. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your San Marcos-area service department!

How to Know If Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

Unsure how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced? Below are some warning signs to look out for as you drive around Vista:

• Your headlights are dimmer than usual.
• You need to jump start your car quite often.
• The engine doesn’t start up right away when you turn the key in the ignition or push the button to start.
• You notice unusual power fluctuations.

Factors That Influence Battery Life

• Heat: Hot climates tend to zap the life out of batteries more quickly than cooler temperatures. That’s because heat causes liquids within a car battery to evaporate.
• Vibrations: Vibrations often occur if the battery’s hold-down clamps are loose or if you’re traversing rough terrain frequently, and they break down internal battery parts at a much faster rate.
• Jump Starts: You shorten battery life with every jump start you administer.
• Time: All batteries eventually will lose their charge, so over time, it’s inevitable that your car battery will die.

For advice on proper battery care, consult your owner’s manual or maintenance schedule.

How to Test a Car Battery

When you bring your vehicle to Mazda of Escondido for routine maintenance, our technicians will test your battery for you. If you would like to test your car battery between appointments, consider the following methods.

Headlight Test: 

1. Start your car and turn on your headlights. Keep the car in park.
2. Rev the engine to determine whether the brightness of your headlights changes.
3. If you notice a difference in brightness, the current from the battery isn’t strong enough when idling.
4. Schedule service with Mazda of Escondido for further assessment.

Digital Multimeter:

1. With the hood of your car popped and the voltmeter set to 20 DC volts, touch the negative terminal (black) to the negative meter probe (also black).
2. Repeat this step by touching the positive terminal (red) with the positive meter probe (also red).
3. Have someone turn on your vehicle’s headlights, and check the voltmeter reading.
4. At a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit: 12.5 volts or higher indicates a full charge; 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?

Curious about how much is a replacement car battery? The cost of a typical car battery ranges between $75 and $120, but premium batteries can cost up to $200. Of course, hybrid batteries tend to be more expensive. Connect with our parts department for more information.

Keep Your Vehicle in Top Shape at Mazda of Escondido

Need to replace your battery? Have other service-related needs, such as an engine air filter change? Bring your car to Mazda of Escondido near Carlsbad. Make sure to check out our service coupons ahead of time to get a great deal!

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