3 Signs Your Chevy’s Battery Needs Replacement

The battery is one of the most important components in your Chevy, as it supplies the electrical charge that cranks the engine so combustion can begin. It weakens naturally over time and usually needs replacement every three to five years. As your Chevy dealership, we’d like you to know some signs that you need to visit us for a battery replacement.

Extreme Cold

Our cold Michigan winters weaken car batteries and can even cause an older battery to fail. At 32°F, a battery loses approximately 20% of its power and storage capacity. At 0°F, this increases to 50%. The chemical reactions inside a battery slow as the temperature drops, and the electrolyte solution inside can freeze.
Low temperatures also cause engine oil to thicken, forcing the battery to use more of its limited power to get the engine started. We recommend testing your battery before winter arrives, particularly if it’s three years or more old. Our technicians will connect your battery to our battery tester. This machine provides vital information on battery health and can identify any issues with the battery. If your battery is worn, we can install a replacement in just a few minutes.

Bad Smell

A rotten egg smell from the engine compartment is a sign that your battery is failing. Sulfuric acid reacts with the copper plates inside the battery to store electricity as chemical energy. These chemical reactions weaken the acid over time, lowering the battery’s storage capacity. As the sulfuric acid naturally breaks down, it releases hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen gas molecules escape the battery and mix with sulfur molecules in the engine compartment to form hydrogen sulfide. This new chemical is corrosive and toxic and smells like rotten eggs. Hydrogen sulfide will start to corrode the terminals, further weakening the battery. We can temporarily remove the corrosion, but the battery will continue to weaken. Once we install a new battery, the foul smell will disappear.

Loose Battery Connections

A battery connects to the electrical system using two cables, one connected to the positive battery terminal and the other to the negative terminal. This allows the battery to supply the power needed to start the engine and recharge. The cables are securely attached to the battery, as electricity can’t pass through a gap.
As time passes, battery cables move slightly due to the minute vibrations caused by driving. If one or both loosen, the battery loses contact with the electrical system. This prevents the battery from supplying the power to crank your engine, and your Chevy won’t start. We’ll examine the cables and tighten them if necessary to fix this issue.

If you have a battery problem, contact our service department here at Matt LaFontaine Chevrolet GMC in Grayling, MI. Our experienced technicians are ready to get your vehicle into tip-top shape – visit us today!

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