Your Ford’s battery provides the power to start your engine, and it maintains all of your car’s electrical systems. A battery, however, has a relatively short lifespan. On average, your battery will need to be replaced in three to five years. As your Ford dealer, we’d like you to know some of the signs that we need to fit a new car battery for you.
Rotten Egg Smell
A rotten egg smell wafting from your engine compartment
means that your battery is failing. Your battery contains a variety of
chemicals, and the chemical reactions allow your battery to store electricity.
One of the main chemicals is sulfuric acid. This acid is essential for your
battery, but it will break down over time and release hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen gas can escape from the battery, and it will mix with other chemicals
in the air. The hydrogen will form hydrogen sulfide, a dangerous and colorless
gas. Hydrogen sulfide has a characteristic smell of rotten eggs. When you smell
this, your battery is starting to fail. We can’t repair the battery, but we can
fit a new one for you.
Corroded Terminals
Your battery has positive and negative terminals which allow
it to transfer and receive electricity. These terminals are a prime candidate
for corrosion by the hydrogen sulfide mentioned above. Hydrogen sulfide gas is
drawn to the battery terminals, and it will produce an acidic salt on them.
This acidic salt slowly degrades the terminals.
The hydrogen sulfide from a worn battery can also corrode other parts of your
car, including the battery cables. As the terminals and cables begin to
corrode, your battery will become even weaker. Our technicians will need to
replace your battery and check the cables and other parts for signs of corrosion.
A Worn Alternator
A battery stores electricity, but doesn’t produce it. Your alternator is responsible for recharging your battery. If your alternator is working as it should, your battery will always be at full capacity. When your alternator starts to fail, it will begin producing less electricity. The lack of velocity affects all of your Ford’s electrical systems, and it will also affect your battery recharging.
As the power supply from the alternator drops, your battery will receive less electricity when it’s being recharged. As the amount of power in starting your car remains the same, this means your battery will become steadily weaker in time. If the alternator isn’t fixed, your battery will eventually die.
A dead battery can easily leave you stranded. If you suspect you have a battery problem, call our service department right away at Crain Ford Jacksonville. Our Ford-trained technicians will fix it for you.
Image via Ford.
