Does Your Ford Need a New Car Battery?

A dead battery can ruin your day. Your battery provides the power to start your ignition, and it maintains the electrical systems while your car is parked. A battery only has a limited life and will eventually need to be replaced. A rule of thumb is to assume that you will need a replacement every 3-4 years. When you need a new car battery in Dahlonega, GA your Ford dealer always has replacements available.

 

Parasitic Electrical Drain

Your battery may be in good condition, yet it can die for no apparent reason. One potential cause is what is known as a parasitic drain. This occurs when one of the electrical systems that the battery maintains doesn’t switch off and continues to draw power. Certain systems, for example, your alarm system, and dash lights draw power when your case is switched off, but these are planned consumption.

There are several possible suspects, including damaged wiring, a faulty cabin light, or a defective trunk locking system. Any of these can cause a serious and unplanned electrical drain and could kill your battery overnight.

Corroded Battery Terminals

A battery contains acid, and when a battery ages it’s possible for some of the gas in the battery to escape. This gas mixes with moisture in the air and forms an acidic salt. The acidic salt is drawn to the positive and negative terminals on your battery, and it will accumulate and corrode the terminals. Corroded terminals are easy to spot, and if you examine the terminals and see a white or gray power caked around them you have a battery leak.

Corroded terminals can also lead to corroded battery cables as the two are in close contact. While you can clean the terminals, this is a temporary solution at best as once a battery starts to corrode it will need to be replaced.

Warped Battery Casing

The sensitive components of the battery are protected by a hard plastic case. As the battery ages, it becomes more susceptible to temperature changes and extreme heat or cold can cause the case to warp. A good battery is generally rectangular, although a square battery is also possible. If you examine the battery and it looks distorted or warped, the battery casing has been damaged.

Cracks can also start to appear in a weakened battery case, and this can lead to battery acid escaping and possible damage to other components. When a battery case is damaged, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible as the damage will only increase with time.

We advise that your battery should be tested at least once every three years to make sure it’s working properly. If your battery shows evidence of wear, regardless of its age it should be replaced. Call our service center at Chestatee Ford and our Ford experts can test your battery and we can easily fit a new battery if needed.

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