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  • DARCARS Kia of Temple Hills

Mar 4, 2022

One of the easiest repairs you can make on your vehicle is getting a new car battery. Once you determine you need to replace it, the actual installation of your new battery takes minutes.Car Battery Temple Hills MD

How Long Does a Battery Replacement Take?

At an authorized service center, you can get a new battery in your car in about 15 minutes. The process involves disconnecting the old battery, removing it, placing the new battery in the resulting space, and connecting the new one. Of course, the actual time it takes to replace your battery will depend on the model of your car and how easy it is to access it under the hood. However, it is a relatively quick process.

Car Battery Replacement Frequency

Most car batteries will last for at least three years, and many will be good for four or five years. However, the actual amount of time you’ll get from your battery depends on a variety of environmental factors, including the climate where you live. Extremely hot or extremely cold climates will cause a battery to fail sooner than if you live in a more temperate area. If you live in an extreme environment, you’ll need your battery replaced more often.

Signs Your Car Battery Is Failing

Your Car Struggles to Start

Your vehicle should start immediately upon turning the ignition key or pressing the ignition button. If your engine hesitates or takes a while to turn over, your battery may be struggling to provide enough charge to start the car as quickly as it did when it was new. If your car stays running and doesn’t stall at red lights and stop signs, you can almost bet the problem is your battery instead of the alternator.

Your Headlights Flicker or Are Dim

All lights in your car run off the battery, so if you notice your headlights are flickering or are dimmer than normal, it’s a sign that your battery is pulling all its charge to start your car and keep it running. It’s not able to keep your lights stable and run the car at the same time. You may also notice that your interior lights and other electronics are not working properly as well, since they are battery-operated, too.

Your Check Engine or Battery Light Is On

Not all vehicles have a separate battery light, but they all have a check engine light. When your battery starts to fail, your car may trigger the battery or check engine light to signal that there’s a problem with your battery. A quick battery charge test at a service center can confirm the problem, and a new battery can be installed in about the same time it takes to diagnose the problem in the first place.

The Battery Case is Misshapen

All car batteries should be perfect rectangular prisms, so if you notice your battery is misshapen or bulging on one or more sides, this is an indication there has been internal damage to the battery. Even if your car is still starting, this could present a dangerous situation, so have it checked immediately.

Get a Battery Replacement in Temple Hills, MD Today

Replacing the battery in your car is a simple repair as long as you don’t wait until it dies completely. Bring your car to DARCARS Kia of Temple Hills today to have your battery tested and, if necessary, replaced at our Kia Service Department while you wait. You can make an appointment online quickly and at your convenience.