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How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Male mechanic changing car battery

When you know how often to change a car battery, you’ll be better prepared for whatever comes your way. Most experts recommend a battery replacement interval of roughly four to five years, since these essential components can only go through so many cycles of charging up and powering down.

Of course, there’s no substitute for a hands-on assessment. Schedule service with Land Rover Annapolis, or find out how to test a car battery at home with a little help from our team.

How to Know If Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

If you’ve noticed any of the following on your drives through Edgewater or Crofton, there’s a good chance that you’re due for a new battery. Here’s what you’ll want to look for before you learn how to test a car battery:

  • You’ve had to jump start your car more than once in recent memory
  • You find that your engine takes longer to start up
  • You’ve experienced strange power fluctuations with your features or connected devices
  • Your headlights, brights, or daytime running lights are dim

Car battery deterioration can be caused by a multitude of factors, including extreme heat or extreme cold. If your battery is nearing the end of its life, getting it replaced before the season changes is a very smart idea. If you end up needing a jump, Land Rover Roadside Assistance may be able to help!

How to Test a Car Battery

Although you’ve already got a good idea of how to know if a car battery needs to be replaced, two potential tests can help to eliminate the guesswork. The first–the headlight test–is as simple as can be:

  1. Turn on the engine and activate the headlights.
  2. Make sure that you’re in park.
  3. Rev the engine and check the brightness of your headlights.
  4. If they grow brighter, your battery is weak and dependent on the alternator. Replace it as soon as possible.
  5. If there is no change in brightness, but they still appear dim, schedule service to let us take a look.

While the headlight test will work in a pinch, those looking for a more precise readout will want to pick up a digital multimeter at our parts department. Here’s how it works:

  1. Set your voltmeter to 20 DC volts.
  2. Put on safety glasses and gloves. Remove all metal, including jewelry, from your person.
  3. Touch the negative (black) meter probe to the negative (black) terminal on your battery. Then, do the same with the positive (red) side.
  4. Now, have a friend turn on the headlights. (You don’t have to turn on the engine).
  5. Check the voltmeter reading. Although temperature can impact the results, you want to see a readout of 12.5 volts or higher. A readout of 11.8 volts is your signal that it’s time for a change.

How Much is a Replacement Car Battery?

How much is a replacement car battery at our parts department? Land Rover car battery replacement costs typically come in at less than $200, although certain factors, such as whether or not you opt for home installation, will certainly impact the final number. In Hybrid and electric vehicles, the cost of car battery replacement can be much higher: usually between $1,000 and $6,000. Take advantage of our service specials to secure an excellent price without going far from Severna Park.

Let Our Service Team Help!

If you have concerns about your battery, let us take a look during your next service visit! We can give you a very solid estimate of when your battery will need replacement. What’s more, you can and should always check your owner’s manual for details. Give us a call today if you’d like to learn more.

Land Rover Annapolis 39.0177406, -76.4824321.