3 Signs Your Toyota Needs a New Car Battery

If your battery is at least three years old, you’ll need to think about replacing it shortly. The average life of a battery is three to five years, and depending on the problem, it can sometimes fail with little warning. As your Toyota dealer, we’d like you to know some signs that you’ll need to visit us for a new car battery.

3 Signs You Need a New Car Battery from Your Toyota Dealer

Check Battery Light

The battery-shaped light on your dash illuminates in response to any problem in the electrical system. While it doesn’t identify the specific issue, it’s always a warning that something is wrong and needs to be repaired. As your battery ages, its ability to recharge and store a charge decreases. In addition, the battery voltage output will drop.

A health battery should supply at least 12.6 volts. Your battery has a sensor connected to it that monitors its output. If the voltage drops to 12 volts or less, your battery is failing. This failure doesn’t necessarily mean the battery is dead, but it isn’t recharging. Our technicians will investigate and repair the fault or replace your battery, depending on the situation.

Foul Smell

Hydrogen sulfide isn’t a chemical that’s normally found in your engine. It forms when your battery is failing. A battery weakens as the sulfuric acid inside it slowly breaks down. This acid releases hydrogen molecules, and these molecules will escape into your engine compartment. They mix with sulfur molecules in the engine to form hydrogen sulfide.

Hydrogen sulfide is corrosive and will rapidly begin corroding the battery terminals and battery clamps. If you smell the stench of rotten eggs, it’s time to visit us for a new battery. We can’t repair a failing battery, but we can install a new one to prevent electrical failures and potential corrosive damage to other engine components.

Starting Problems

As we saw above, a failing battery produces less output than it should. The battery’s most important job is to supply the power that’s used to start your engine. The electrical charge sent from the battery to the starter when you hit the start button uses a large percentage of the battery’s reserves. A weak battery might not have enough power to start the engine immediately.

The labored sound of a starter trying and failing to crank the engine usually means your battery is failing. Our technicians will test your battery and install a new one if required.

Don’t risk being let down by a failing battery. Contact our service department today at Phil Meador Toyota in Pocatello, ID.

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