Determining When Your GMC Needs a New Car Battery

The average lifespan of a car battery is three to five years, but this can be reduced due to extreme weather conditions or undiagnosed issues in the engine, like a failing alternator. As your GMC dealer, we’d like you to know some of the signs that your battery is in trouble and you need to visit us for a new car battery.

Signs You Need a New Car Battery From Your GMC Dealer

Dim Headlights

Dim headlights are often one of the first signs that your headlight bulbs need replacement. They could also indicate that your battery is weakening. When your engine is switched off, the battery uses its reserves to power your vehicle’s systems. If the battery fails, it might not have enough stored power to supply all the systems sufficiently.

You can perform a test to check your battery. Note the brightness of your headlights, then start your engine and check the brightness again. If the headlights don’t look brighter, your bulbs probably need replacement. If the lights are much brighter, your battery is failing. We’ll connect your battery to our battery tester to check it and replace the battery if it’s wearing out.

Rotten Egg Smell

If you smell the stench of rotten eggs wafting into your cabin, your battery could be failing. This foul smell is due to hydrogen sulfide, a corrosive and toxic chemical that forms as a battery weakens. Chemical reactions inside the battery enable it to store electricity as chemical energy. One of these chemicals, sulfuric acid, gradually breaks down and releases hydrogen as part of the breakdown process.

The hydrogen molecules will escape the battery and mix with sulfur in your engine to form hydrogen sulfide. This new chemical will start to corrode the battery terminals and other nearby metal components. Once a battery starts to release hydrogen, it’s already in decline. The battery can’t be repaired, but we’ll install a new one to fix this problem.

Battery Warning Light

This warning light illuminates if sensors in your engine detect any issues in the electrical system. These sensors connect to each component in the electrical system and closely monitor their connected component for any problems. They’re very sensitive, and can easily identify the smallest changes in a component and give you sufficient warning time to repair it before it fails.

The battery can trigger this warning light as its electrical output drops. A healthy battery supplies approximately 13.5 volts. As it weakens, this output falls and the light will illuminate if the output drops to 12.5 volts or less. This is a sign that the battery can’t supply all your vehicle’s electricity demands. We’ll test your battery to confirm this and will replace it for you.

A battery will usually always provide some warning that it’s failing. Visit us today at Schepel Buick GMC in Merrillville, IN.

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