Why Is the Battery Light Illuminated on the Dashboard?

Righteous Auto Care advises that if the battery light turns on and remains on after you start your automobile or while you are driving the vehicle, there is an electrical problem that could be related to the battery. If your battery is over three years old, it is likely dying and needs to be replaced. An illuminated battery light is just one sign that the battery needs to be replaced. Here are other signs.

A dying battery is going to make it difficult to start your automobile. You will notice that the engine cranks more times than it normally does before it finally fires up. If you get the engine started, we recommend that you head straight to our shop so we can test the battery and replace it if necessary. Otherwise, you may end up with a dead battery the next time you attempt to start your automobile.

A dying battery is also going to cause electrical problems with your vehicle. For example, the vehicle’s lights may start to flicker and their brightness may be reduced. You may also notice that your power accessories have slowed down. For example, it may take longer to open and close your power window. Other electrical accessories, such as your entertainment system, may start to malfunction.

If you are having either of the problems listed above, take a moment to inspect your battery. Pop the hood and check the battery to see if there is corrosion on the battery terminals and cables. If there is, you can clean away the corrosion with a mixture of baking soda and water and an old toothbrush. This being said, the corrosion points to the fact that the battery is leaking battery acid.

In fact, you may also smell an odor that resembles rotten eggs around the battery. This is the odor of sulfuric acid. The battery has sulfuric acid in it to create a chemical reaction between the acid and the plates inside the battery. Rotten egg odors point to a battery leak.

Finally, if there is a problem with the chemical reaction inside of the battery, the battery case will start to warp. It may also bubble. In addition, an older battery case can crack. If the battery case looks damaged in any way, you need to replace the battery right away.

We can do that here at Righteous Auto Care in Racine, WI, so call us today for a service appointment.