How Do I Know If My Jeep Needs A New Battery?
Car batteries do not last forever. However, when you take proper care of your battery, it will last you for a good period.
Like other automobiles, high-performance Jeeps come with a warranty covering your battery for a stipulated period.
After all, it is always evident if your battery needs replacement. But, how can you tell that your car battery is due for replacement?
Your Jeep needs a new battery when the engine begins to start slowly. That is because the battery is responsible for all the electrical running of your car. Therefore, when the engine starts excessively slow, you need a new battery.
How Do I Know if My Jeep Battery is Bad?
If your car does not start with the Jeep key fob starter, then the battery of your Jeep is having an issue. Your Jeep should not need any other form of ignition.
Even though it is just the first time you had to push and start your Jeep, you should consider a replacement.
There is no way the battery of your Jeep will have an issue without you realizing it.
Although it takes time before it finally gets spoiled, it will begin to give signs when it starts to deteriorate.
The signs car battery give when they are bad motivates you to consider that your Jeep battery needs replacement.
Imagine you struggle with your Jeep key fob or push-start your car almost every day. If you drive at night, dim lights are one of the indications of a bad battery.
These are ways you can tell if your battery is bad. I know you might be thinking that the battery warning light is an indicator of a faulty car battery, but that is not the case.
The battery warning light is connected directly to the alternator of your car. Your car battery needs to be powered to carry out its functions.
It is the process of driving that charges the battery. An alternator is responsible for charging the car battery.
If the alternator is bad, the warning light indicates that you are using the vehicle without charging the battery.
Notwithstanding, it is related to the car battery’s health due to leaving the car idle for a long time. Like biologists say, any organ not put to use deteriorates over time. Does Jeep Compass Have Two Batteries?
So, when you leave your car without using it for long, the battery begins to spoil. Still, you can call for a battery replacement service before the battery dies.
Signs of a dead car battery
A dead battery would no longer be able to carry out its electrical functions. For example, when you open the bonnet of your car, a dead battery welcomes you with a bad smell.
Also, the terminals that connect your battery would rot, and the battery acid will begin to leak. The signs of a dead battery are
- Corroded terminals
- Swollen surface and
- Rotten smell
- Failure to function
Most times, when we begin to experience the last sign of a dead battery, we make moves to get a new one.
However, I don’t recommend you wait till your battery finally gives up, as it could pose a serious threat to your car and life.
Instead, you should regularly make time to open your bonnet and check your battery.
The first visible sign is the corrosion of the terminals to which your battery is connected.
When the battery corrodes, it gives off crystalline or a green-blue powdery substance at the terminal.
After some time, the battery will swell, and due to the corrosion, it will start leaking and smelling.
That acid that comes out of the battery is hazardous and, if you do not take care, might damage other components in the car.
You should get a battery replacement service when you notice any of the above signs. Those are signs that your car battery is dead and needs replacing.
How Do You Know When Your Car Needs a New Battery?
When the battery your car uses can no longer carry out its function, the battery needs replacement.
So, struggling too much with starting your vehicle is no longer a problem with your battery.
It is rather the car trying to tell you that it can no longer function with its battery. Hence, it requires a new battery.
Your car battery is responsible for virtually the entire functionality of your vehicle. It powers all the car parts that use electricity, including the engine.
Your car’s key fob ignition system can not function without a battery. It is only the push and start system that works without a battery.
So, if you start having problems with your car’s key fob, then it is something that has to do with your battery. Either it takes too long before your car ignites, or it fails to ignite at all.
Those are signs that you need a new battery. However, a good option will be to service special parts of the battery and see if it is something that you can repair.
If your car’s lights become dim, it is also a sign of your battery getting weak. Notwithstanding, the poor lights can also mean your car battery is low.
It is just like when your phone reduces some battery-consuming function when it comes to a certain percentage.
Also, you must always ensure to check the engine light. It might be an issue with your engine the same way it is likely to be the battery.
If you have been using the battery for over three to four years, then any sign it gives is obvious the battery needs replacement. Do you know How Long a Tesla Battery Last?
How Long Do Jeep Batteries Last?
Jeep batteries can last for five years as the maximum life span of a battery. However, it depends on certain factors for your Jeep to be able to make it up to that five years.
And these factors are;
- Type of battery
- Size of battery
- Atmospheric conditions and
- Driving habit
#1. Type of the Battery
The type of battery your Jeep uses is a very relevant determinant factor of how long it will last. Any battery that is a pre-owned inventory is likely to fail quickly.
The Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Jeep Cherokee, and Wrangler Jeep are the Jeeps with the best batteries and can last for three to four years straight.
The best-rated battery for the Jeep is the Optima DH6 YellowTop Dual Purpose Sealed AGM Batteries.
#2. Size of Battery
Battery size sure comes in handy when talking about how long Jeep batteries last. A standard Jeep battery should be within the sizes 34 and 78.
You can get the type and size of battery that would last for a Jeep at amazon.
#3. Atmospheric Conditions
Cold atmospheric conditions are no good news for Jeeps as it reduces the vehicle’s overall performance. The weather can even make your Jeep stop at some point due to much stress.
#4. Driving Habits
The more often you drive your car, the better the battery of your Jeep. The car battery charges when it is in motion, so not driving your vehicle for a long period depletes the battery’s lifespan.
How Do You Check a Jeep Battery?
You can check the battery of your Jeep either by;
- Inspection
- Use of voltmeter or
- Using millimeter
It is natural to wait for three to four years before your battery begins to give any challenges.
First, however, you must check your battery at intervals for signs that the car battery is in a good state.
#1. Inspection
You can check your battery by inspecting it to ensure nothing is out of place. In addition, you should look out for any signs of corrosion or swells during the inspection.
#2. Use of voltmeter
It is a simple yet professional tool used to check Jeep batteries. Anyone with the idea of using a voltmeter can check the battery.
Still, I highly implore you to seek the aid of a professional if you know nothing about the voltmeter.
#3. Millimeter
It is almost the same thing as a voltmeter, but it goes the extra mile to check the battery’s overall health. Voltmeter only measures the electrical charge of the car battery.
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Conclusion
If your Jeep key fob no longer starts your car with ease, then it might be that the battery needs replacement. A Jeep battery is supposed to last for about three to five years.
However, some conditions might cause the battery to go bad before the due. Also, make sure to check the engine light.
