How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Typically, you would need to replace your battery every 4-5 years, and sooner if you live in an area that’s colder or if you are traveling frequently during the winter. Learn more about the ins and outs of battery life with Billion Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram FIAT near Sioux City to equip yourself for winter readiness. Contact our service center if you have any further questions.

How to Know If Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

Some warning signs to watch out for to know if your battery is reaching its end:

• Headlights dimming over time
• If you find yourself needing jump starts or engine revving more frequently
• If it takes longer to start your engine when you turn the key or press the on button
• If you find your power fluctuating on Brookings roads

How to Test a Car Battery

Schedule a service appointment at our Mitchell service center at least twice a year to make sure your battery is working properly. If you want to test at home, there are two methods you can try:

The Headlight Test: 

1. Keep the engine in park while turning the car on, and make sure the headlights are on.
2. Rev the engine and see if the brightness of the headlights changes at all.
3. If the headlights get brighter that means your vehicle’s current is not strong enough to keep the lights at normal brightness while your vehicle is in idle mode.
4. Take your car to a service center at this point for further assessment.

Using a Digital Multimeter:

1. Set the voltmeter to 20 DC volts.
2. Under the hood, touch the negative terminal (black) with the negative meter probe (also black).
3. Touch the positive terminal (red) with the positive meter probe (also red)
4. With the help of a friend, have them turn on the headlights while you have the voltmeter reading.
5. If your voltmeter reads 80℉, 12.5 volts or higher means your battery is fully charged. If your voltmeter reads 12.3 volts it’s charged 75%. If your voltmeter reads 11.8 volts or lower means you have 25% or less.

How Much is a Replacement Car Battery? 

A car battery can cost between $75 to $120, but if you are looking for a premium battery replacement that typically runs you $200. Hybrid batteries are more expensive typically costing anywhere between $1000 and $6000. However, the upside to an electric car battery replacement is the much lower gas prices.

Prepare for Winter with Billion Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram FIAT

Whether you are ready to replace your battery, check out our parts center for a quick and expedient replacement. Hope to see you at Billion Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram FIAT near Sioux City soon.