How can i know when should i change the battery?
you could buy some simple voltage tester that goes in the cigarette lighter that will show you your voltage it helps, If every time you start your car and the voltage is 12.0 12.2 etc then it is dying couse it is not charged right, It shoul not drop below 12.4 EVER. Below 12.4 it starts to sulphate, batter should have 12.4 up to 12.9 all the time. And if your car has trouble to start then either the battery is dying or the alternator is not charging right. Or simpler buy car battery tester its not pricey, and you can check battery volatage, starter and alternator 🙂
I have Autool BT-360, it show you your battery life how its charged, how the starter of car works, is the alternator charging right usefull tool.
Thanks for the voltage tip, i bought a OBD II Hud that shows voltage an engine temperature and a bunch of stuff so i can check the voltage. But i'm gonna see if i can find battery testers.
Remeber battery neeeds to be checked cold 1 hour after the car was started. Every time you start a car battery voltage will go up. So lets say its sits it has 12.7v you start your car than turn it off battery will have around 13.1v and drop slowly propably to 12.65. Battery tester can show you what life is the battery and you can buy Battery Tester Hydrometer you can buy em for 3-5$, you dont need fancy one for 50$ ;p, So you can check each cell for density of acid 🙂
On your free time check it at an auto parts store to see how much life is still left in the battery. I usually find out my battery is dead when its to late and my vehicle won't crank or do anything.
When the car begins to struggle to start.
voltage alone is not a good battery health indicator. It needs to be load tested. Any battery dealer will do this for you for free.
Honestly, if you get to 5 years I would just replace it. In August my 2015 Tacoma with factory battery was starting perfeclty just like the day I bought it. I went into the store, came out and NOTHING!!! Not even a dash light! Battery just dead shorted and after years of bumps and travel it can happen!
Take it to your mechanic or a major auto parts store and they should be willing to test it for free. No need to buy your own tester.
You should have a jump stater. Scotty talks about them. They are great. Not only do they jump start the car but they can give a good read out of the battery voltage and when you start the car you can see if you have an alternator problem as it should jump from 12 to 14+. For about $70 they are a great investment. I believe Scotty recommended the Top Vision. That is what I have. These lithium ion battery chargers are so great. Get one. They can not only diagnose your car, but also get you started when you need to.
If any of that is too difficult for you, get a AAA membership and when your car dies call them. They will jump start or replace your battery if needed. You will know your battery is dead when your car doesn't start.
A battery can be on its last legs for a long time. I agree with Mountainmanjoe. When your car struggles to start, you need to replace it.
Sure, you can bring your car to someone who will test the battery and they will sell you a new one, but why not actually wait until it actually needs to be replaced? I was told I needed a new battery but had no problem for another year.
Replace your battery when A) You see signs that your starter is slow or other battery related problems and you tested your battery to make sure it is the problem and not the alternator B) Having these difficulties you don't have a jump starter and don't know how to use one AND you are not a member of AAA and can't possibly wait about an hour to take care of the problem when it arises. C) You are planning on a major road trip or winterizing a vehicle and you test the battery.
Get a jump starter, join AAA, and prepare your car for winter or long trips.
