3 Signs Your Ford Needs a New Car Battery

A battery has been part of every car since the first automobile rolled off the production line. It provides electrical power to the starter motor which enables your engine to crank and start. The battery has a limited life and will gradually wear out and need replacement. As your Ford dealer, we can fix the problem. These are some signs that you need to visit us for a new car battery.

Battery Corrosion

Most car problems are not easy to identify by looking at a component. A corroded battery is one of the exceptions. Corrosion usually occurs as a byproduct of a failing battery. Sulfuric acid in the battery breaks down as it ages. This process releases hydrogen gas which escapes the battery casing. The hydrogen atoms join with other chemicals in your battery and form hydrogen sulfide.

Hydrogen sulfide is corrosive, and this gas is drawn to the positive and negative terminals on the battery. The gas forms an acidic salt around the terminals and starts to dissolve them. If you pop the hood and see a green, white, or gray salt-like substance on the terminals, your battery is corroding. Corrosion can be cleaned, but it will always return. We replace your battery to fix this problem.

Worn Alternator

The battery uses a large percentage of its stored reserves to power the starter motor. Since the battery doesn’t produce electricity, it depends on the alternator to recharge it. Recharging occurs automatically when your car is moving, and the alternator is healthy. If your alternator is failing, it produces less electricity, which impacts battery recharging.

A worn alternator will supply less electricity to the battery than it needs to replace the power it uses. When this happens, your battery will grow steadily weaker and eventually fail. You usually receive a warning as the battery light will illuminate. This light shows a problem with the alternator’s power output and inevitably means a weakening battery. We’ll test the alternator and replace it if it’s the cause of the problem.

Dim Lights

Dim lights are one of the most common signs of a battery problem, but they can easily be mistaken for other issues. Headlight bulbs that are failing will also become dim shortly before they blow. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy for you to test if the battery is the source of the problem.

To identify the problem, switch on the headlights when your engine is off and note their luminescence. Start your engine and check the brightness of the lights. If the lights are brighter with the engine running, your battery is failing. When the engine is working, the alternator supplies power to the lights.