How Often Do I Need to Replace My Car Battery?

Proper vehicle maintenance is key to enjoying your Volkswagen for years to come. Every vehicle is different and has varying issues that need to be attended to. However, the car battery is a vital part of any vehicle's maintenance schedule. Replacing the car battery is based on a few factors that are within and out of your control.

It's important to visit Prestige VW in Turnersville, NJ, when you start to notice any problems with your car's battery. In this guide, we teach you how to identify car battery issues.

Amp-Hours

Amp-hours (AH) or reserve capacity is the measure of the amount of energy a battery can hold. Batteries are usually labeled with AH specifications.

Car batteries are categorized as wet cell batteries because they're comprised of dual stations carrying sulfuric acid and lead inside a plastic cube.

Life Span

Volkswagen has strict requirements for their batteries and offers warranties to protect your battery. The average battery lasts two to three years, but VW batteries will last longer with the proper care and maintenance. How often you need to replace your battery depends on a number of factors.

Extreme weather conditions, including heat and coldness, will affect your battery's life span. Heat can exhaust your battery, making it work harder, prolonging the recharging process, loosening the metal within the battery, and draining the battery.

Every car battery contains a certain amount of water, attributed to its wet cell, which starts to evaporate under intense heat conditions. If the water level gets too low, your battery will be damaged and need to be replaced.

During cold weather, you may experience trouble getting your car started. Cold temperatures strain the battery, causing it to lose a percentage of its power.

It's important to have a mechanic check your battery during the winter and summer months to make sure that everything is in proper working order.

Here are some key signs to look for as to whether your battery should be replaced:  

   
• The outside casing of your battery looks like it's expanding or swelling.
          
• Your engine takes longer than usual to start.
          
• The fluid level in your battery is low.
          
• Your car battery starts to leak.
          
• Your battery is more than three years old.
          
• Your check engine light starts flashing.   
          
• Your ignition grinds or clicks when you start it.
          
• You often plug electronic devices such as chargers and phones into your vehicle's ports.

Replacing the Car Battery

If you notice any of these signs and live in the Mount Laurel, Cherry Hill, or Turnersville, NJ, areas, contact your local Prestige VW dealership immediately. One of our skilled mechanics will be able to inspect your vehicle and find out the source of the issue. If your car battery needs to be replaced, we'll assist you in purchasing and installing a new battery.

Don't wait until the cold of winter or the dog days of summer to purchase a new car battery. Contact Prestige VW now!