How Often to Replace Car Battery

Wondering how often to replace a car battery? And how much is a replacement car battery? Aside from routine tasks such as oil changes and air filter replacements, tending to your car’s battery is crucial for maintaining smooth performance around Bartow. While experts generally recommend replacing your battery every 4-5 years, its lifespan can significantly vary depending on various factors. Learn more about battery replacement frequency, how much a replacement car battery costs, and how to test a car battery with Kelley Automotive Group. Save on your next battery service at Kelley Automotive Group with our service specials!

How to Know If Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

Aside from the battery not starting, there are a few occurrences that hint at your battery beginning to fail. Here’s how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced: 

• Dimming headlights
• More frequent need for engine revving or jump starts
• Takes longer to start the engine when you turn the key/push the button
• Unusual power fluctuations

Causes of Car Battery Deterioration

The issues mentioned above and general battery deterioration can be caused by a few factors: 

• Heat: Drivers around Winter Haven may know this, but a consistently hot climate leads to a shorter battery life. Hot weather causes the liquids inside a car battery to evaporate.
• Vibrations: Particularly bumpy roads or a loose battery hold-down clamp can lead to vibrations that cause the internal battery parts to break down faster.
• Needing a Jump: If your vehicle requires frequent jump-starting, it can significantly shorten the battery life.
• Time: Days around Bartow can get busy, and your car battery can only go through so many charge cycles. Battery replacements are inevitable, but proper care can help prevent your battery from dying early. 

How often to replace a car battery depends on your level of care. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for recommended care instructions.

How to Test a Car Battery

Many Lakeland service centers offer free battery testing, and you can easily have your car battery tested during your routine maintenance. You should know how to test a car battery. However, you can test your battery’s output with a few at-home troubleshooting methods:

The Headlight Test: 

1. Turn on the engine and make sure the headlights are on.
2. Keep the vehicle in park and rev the engine.
3. If the headlights get brighter, that means the current is not strong enough to keep the lights at normal brightness while the car is idling. 
4. Bring your car to a Auburndale-area service center for a thorough inspection.

Using a Digital Multimeter:

1. Set the voltmeter to 20 DC volts.
2. Under the hood, touch the negative terminal (black) with the negative meter probe (also black).
3. Touch the positive terminal (red) with the positive meter probe (also red)
4. Have a friend turn on the headlights and check the voltmeter reading.
5. At 80℉, 12.5 volts or higher means your battery is fully charged. 12.3 volts means it’s at about 75% charged.11.8 volts or lower means you have 25% or less charge. 

How Much is a Replacement Car Battery? 

You might ask yourself, “How much is a replacement car battery?” Similar to other services, how much a replacement car battery costs depends on the requirements of your vehicle. Standard car batteries can cost between $75 and $120, while premium batteries can cost up to $200. However, if you have a hybrid or electric vehicle, batteries play a larger role in your performance and can cost anywhere between $1000 and $6000. This higher cost is often offset by the gas-saving benefits of electric performance. 

Explore Service Tips at Kelley Automotive Group!

Now that you know how often to replace a car battery and how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced, Kelley Automotive Group is here for all your service tips and tricks. Learn more about your vehicle’s maintenance, and don’t hesitate to contact our service center team if you have any questions.