If your battery is 3-5 years old, it’s time to get it tested

Question: I've had my car for awhile now, and I've never given the battery a second thought. Should I?

Answer: A car battery isn't very different from a regular battery. If the battery in your cell phone dies, you're not going to be making any calls. When your car battery is dead, your car isn't going to start.

Car batteries last an average of three to five years, but there are a few factors that can affect that length. The first is driving habits. If you regularly drive for 20 minutes or less, your battery does not fully charge, which will cause it to fail sooner.

The second is climate. Many people associate dead batteries with the winter months, but summer's heat actually has a greater effect on battery life.  According to the Car Care Council, heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which damages the internal structure of the battery. That’s slow death for a battery.

In hotter temperatures, your car battery requires a higher charge rate, which can lead to an accelerated loss of active material from the positive lead plates, increased grid corrosion and water loss. All of this adds up to a battery that's on borrowed time.

While it's not unusual for a battery to fail suddenly, you may get lucky and be privy to occasional warning signs that your battery is on its last legs:

• Your engine doesn’t start immediately or it cranks slowly.
• Some electrical components aren’t functioning when you try to start the vehicle.
• You need a jump start to get your car running.
• Your dashboard warning lights are on.
• The battery case is swelling.
• There's a sulfur or rotten egg smell around the battery, which is caused by battery leaks.

If your battery is 3 to 5 years or older, it’s smart money to have it tested or replaced. Call on CARS to test your battery or to fit your car with a new battery, ensuring you get started each and every time!

Brian Blohm is the Service Manager and Managing Partner - Operations CARS of America in Glenview. He is an ASE-Certified Automotive Service Technician and ASE-Certified Service Advisor with more than 25 years of automotive experience. A graduate of Triton College with an associate's degree in Automotive Technology, he has continued his training and education with the Automotive Training Institute and RL O'Connor. You can reach Brian via email at brianb@carsofamericainc.com or by phone at (847) 961-4363.