When to Change Your Car Battery

There are several vital components to your vehicle’s performance that help you navigate the streets of Rancho Santa Margarita and Garden Grove. Of those components, your car battery may rank the highest. Without it, not only will your vehicle not move, it won’t even turn on. The best way to stay ahead of this is knowing when to change your car battery.
At our service center, we’re here to help drivers learn more about how to test a car battery, the issues that can occur, and when they should plan to have their car battery changed.
How to Tell Your Car Battery Is Dying
When your car battery dies, it will prevent your engine from turning over or your vehicle from starting. Whether your battery simply reaches its expiration, it’s not charging, or there’s some damage that’s wearing away at it, you’ll want to stay on top of your battery’s health and condition.
Like most vehicle maintenance issues, there are a few signs that you can keep an eye out for that let you know it’s time to schedule service. Look out for:
- Slow engine crank
- Clicking sound when turning the key
- Needing to press the accelerator to start the engine
- Interior lights and screens flickering
- Headlights are getting dim
- Battery warning light
- Battery is five years old

How to Perform a Car Battery Test
If you’ve had your battery for a while, or you’re starting to see signs that your battery might be going bad, you may want to perform a car battery test.
When you go to test your battery, you’ll need to get a multimeter and connect the plugs to the appropriate leads (negative to negative/positive to positive). Start by turning on your headlights for two minutes to get rid of the excess charge.
Take your multimeter and set it to 20 volts. After two minutes, shut off the battery and connect the leads. Your battery, if fully charged, should go to up to 12 volts. Keep the meter on and start your vehicle. If it drops below 10 volts, it could mean that your battery is losing its charge and may need repairs or a replacement.
Have Your Battery Repaired or Changed Today
If your battery is showing signs that it’s on its way out, or if you run a car battery test that indicates it’s dying, you’ll want to schedule service as soon as possible before it fully runs out and your car fails to start.
Our team of certified technicians is here to guide you along and help determine the best course of action for your vehicle and your battery. They’ll run tests to determine the issue that’s affecting your battery. They’ll also come up with a plan to repair your battery or walk you through replacement options. Once they go to work, your battery will be in proper working condition in no time, and you’ll be able to hit the road without any hiccups!
Are you in need of battery service or a replacement? Schedule an appointment with us at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore Irvine to get the most out of your trips around Rancho Santa Margarita and Garden Grove!