Vehicle Battery Replacement – Car Battery Testing
It is important to periodically test your vehicle battery, do not just wait until it is starting to act up. Twice a year, is a good suggestion as to how often to ask your mechanic to monitor your car battery. If your battery is needing jumped or your headlights are dim until you rev your engine, this is probably a sign that your battery is not charging as fully as it should be and that you are ready for a vehicle batter replacement. Monitoring for this may prevent you from needing a tow job in the future.
How Many Volts Should A Vehicle Battery Have?
Fully charged car batteries should reach 12.6 volts or higher. When the engine is on, this measurement should be 13.7 to 14.7 volts. Even without a multimeter, you can check out your car’s electrical system by starting your vehicle and turning on the headlights. If the lights are dim, they are probably running off of the battery and that means the alternator isn’t producing enough of a charge. If the lights get brighter as you rev the engine, the alternator is producing some current, but not enough at idle to properly charge the battery. If the lights have normal brightness and don’t change intensity as the engine is revved, your charging system is probably working normally. If you have had problems with your battery system and the headlight test shows no problems, you should look into whether or not the battery is holding a charge or ask us at Lauger’s Auto in Hummelstown to check it out!
Vehicle Battery Maintenance Tips
- Confirm your battery’s terminal connections are clean, tight and shielded from the weather. Leaking or corrosion could indicate that your car’s battery is not working optimally.
- Make sure you unplug accessories and turn off all lights before shutting off your vehicle.
- Heat can damage batteries, cooler storage areas are always better for vehicles.
- Clean corrosion from battery terminals with a combination of water and baking soda.
More About Vehicle Battery Replacement
To learn more about replacing your vehicle’s battery and the reasons why you should have your battery checked periodically, visit these links to our educational site specific for customer use!
Contact Us
Lauger’s Auto provides vehicle battery replacement, all auto repair services, towing and more to customers in the following nearby Pennsylvania towns and cities: Hershey, Harrisburg, Hummelstown, Palmyra, Middletown, Elizabethtown, Lebanon, Linglestown, and Grantville. If you think your battery may be at the end of it’s lifespan stop by or give us a ring for a battery test.