Battery Check and Replacement: Don’t Get Stranded This Summer

Did you know car batteries get heatstroke, too? Well, not exactly heatstroke, but the summer’s heat can certainly take them out. Without summer battery service at your local Ford dealership, you might struggle to start your car one day. Here’s a guide to Ford battery service and timely battery replacement. 

Ford Battery Service and Replacement: Don’t Get Stranded This Summer

Have Your Battery Tested Routinely

Once or twice a year, drivers should have their batteries tested along with an inspection of the car’s entire electrical system. A good time to do this is at the start of both winter and summer, and certainly before any long journeys, such as a summer road trip. Car batteries typically last three to five years; it’s particularly important to book a battery checkup once yours passes three years of age. 

Pop the Hood to Check Your Battery

As your battery ages, it’s a good idea to make a habit of checking how it looks. The terminals on top should remain corrosion-free at all times. A slight patina of green-white corrosion can often be cleaned away, but once serious corrosion sets in, the battery can no longer conduct electricity reliably and will need to be replaced. 

The battery casing should also look fine at all times. If its walls start to warp out of shape and are no longer perfectly straight, the battery has to go. Needless to say, if your battery ever cracks open and starts leaking, get rid of it immediately. 

Signs It’s Time for Battery Replacement

Slowing cabin electronics usually means the battery can no longer hold or deliver voltage properly. When a battery’s bad, even the headlights and dashboard dials may falter. The battery warning light will eventually come to life. Most worrisome of all, your engine starts will grow sluggish, and your car may refuse to start one day, potentially stranding you somewhere unfamiliar on a sweltering day.

How Heat Harms a Car Battery

During a hot summer, the temperature inside an engine compartment can reach very high levels. This heat starts to evaporate the liquid catalyst electrolyte inside the battery, weakening its structure and shortening its lifespan. To prevent this, try parking in the shade and have your battery checked as the warm months begin. 

Books Summer Battery Service Today at Your Ford Dealership 

Let’s find out how healthy your car battery is. We can test your battery and also make sure your alternator and wiring are in good shape. If your battery is showing signs of decline, we can promptly install a brand-new one, saving you from the problems created when a car battery dies unexpectedly. 

Come to Koons Ford Silver Spring in Silver Spring, MD, to have your battery tested or replaced. 

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