{"id":11052,"date":"2020-06-30T05:28:08","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T12:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=11052"},"modified":"2024-03-18T16:47:02","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T23:47:02","slug":"how-to-check-car-battery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-check-car-battery\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Check Your Car Battery &#038; Battery Cables"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_dee705-74{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_dee705-74 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_dee705-74 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-f596c0  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-136211\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_2cdc0f-64\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Your car battery powers your vehicle&rsquo;s starter motor and onboard electronics.<\/li><li>Routine inspections usually include checking for corrosion, ensuring the terminals are secure, and reviewing the battery date code.<\/li><li>Car batteries last around 3 to 7 years before requiring replacement.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly every driver is familiar with automotive batteries and the all-too-common occurrence of needing a jumpstart. Much like the batteries in a flashlight or any other household device, a car battery has a limited service life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&rsquo;s why the battery, cables, and terminals should be checked on a regular basis to ensure your engine starts every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding the Battery, Cables, and Terminals<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/checking-car-battery-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"checking car battery\" class=\"wp-image-11075\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/checking-car-battery-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/checking-car-battery-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/checking-car-battery-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/checking-car-battery-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/checking-car-battery.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>You need to check your car battery, its cables and its terminals on a regular basis to ensure your engine starts every time.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The battery provides electrical energy to the starter motor, which, in turn, cranks the engine to get it running. Also, the battery provides electricity to the car&rsquo;s onboard electronics when the engine is turned off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Needless to say, the battery is pretty important. What many people don&rsquo;t recognize though, is that the battery cables are equally as important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Cables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery-cable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery cables\">battery cables<\/a>: the positive and the negative. The positive battery cable connects the battery to the starter motor and other points of the car&rsquo;s electrical system. Meanwhile, the negative car battery cable connects the battery to a common ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Terminals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of each battery cable, there&rsquo;s a terminal that attaches the cable to the battery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although nearly all modern batteries are maintenance-free, the terminals occasionally require cleaning. As for the cables, they&rsquo;re designed to last the life of the vehicle (but that doesn&rsquo;t always happen).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Perform a Routine Inspection of the Car Battery &amp; Associated Components<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every few months, you should perform a routine inspection of the battery, cables, and terminals. Here&rsquo;s what to check:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Make sure the battery, cables, and terminals are clean and free from corrosion<\/li><li>Ensure that the terminals are securely attached to the battery (wiggle them to check)<\/li><li>Make sure that the battery hold-down bracket is secure<\/li><li>If possible, check the age of the battery by inspecting the battery date code  <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Many professional repair shops will also perform a battery load test as part of a routine inspection&mdash;but this process requires equipment that most DIYers do not have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, keep in mind that batteries contain acid and release explosive gases during normal operation. Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment and follow the necessary safety procedures whenever you&rsquo;re inspecting the battery and associated components.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/corroded-car-battery-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"corroded car battery terminals\" class=\"wp-image-11076\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/corroded-car-battery-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/corroded-car-battery-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/corroded-car-battery-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/corroded-car-battery-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/corroded-car-battery.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Corrosion builds up on battery terminals over time and can cause your vehicle not to start.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Do if You Find Issues with Your Car Battery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, corrosion builds up on the battery terminals. The issue can cause a range of problems, including a vehicle that won&rsquo;t start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A quick cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and water usually cures the problem. You can also choose to purchase a dedicated battery cleaning product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just remember&mdash;the corrosion built up around the battery is acidic. When cleaning the terminals, you must wear the proper personal protective equipment, including gloves and safety glasses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Loose terminals can also result in a variety of problems, including an engine that won&rsquo;t start. If you find the terminals to be loose, simply snug them down with the appropriate size wrench. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, make sure the battery hold-down bracket is secure; tighten it down if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Long Do Car Batteries Last?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There&rsquo;s usually a date code somewhere on the case that gives you an idea of the battery&rsquo;s age. Sometimes the code is written in standard date format (e.g., 11\/20). In other cases, the code contains a letter and a number; the letter indicates the month of production, while the numbers indicate the year of production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consult the battery manufacturer&rsquo;s chart if the code is difficult to decipher.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/automotive-battery-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"automotive battery\" class=\"wp-image-11077\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/automotive-battery-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/automotive-battery-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/automotive-battery-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/automotive-battery-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/automotive-battery.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>A car battery typically lasts between 3 and 7 years.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Typically, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-long-can-your-car-battery-last-with-a-single-charge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery\">battery<\/a> will last between three and seven years before requiring replacement. If the date code indicates your battery is past its prime, you might want to have it tested by a professional to avoid being stranded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a New Battery for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With your daily driver, you can go anywhere you want. But if you&rsquo;ve got a dead <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"battery\">battery<\/a> under the hood, you don&rsquo;t really have a choice but to stay at home or brave public transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that here at <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>, you can get a top-notch battery replacement delivered straight to your doorstep in as fast as two business days. Thanks to our strategically located warehouses across the US, shipping has never been easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It only takes a few clicks to find the right battery for your ride. Enter your ride&rsquo;s year, make, and model into our vehicle selector to narrow down the catalog to direct-fit batteries for your daily driver. Then, use the search filters to find a battery that matches your preferred brand and price range, and check out securely in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take advantage of unbeatable deals when you shop from us. All our products come with a lifetime replacement and low-price guarantee, helping you get the best value for your money. If you have questions, you can call us anytime using our toll-free hotline, and our team of round-the-clock customer service representatives will be ready to assist you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out our car batteries today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Products Mentioned in this Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"reusable-productlink\">\n\n<!-- start of editable content -->\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery-cable\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Battery Cable\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/rb32460001_1\" alt=\"Battery Cable\">\n<strong>Battery Cable<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/battery\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Battery\" rel=\"noopener\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/d_noimage.jpg,h_200,w_200,c_pad,f_auto,q_auto,dpr_auto,e_sharpen\/images\/odyodp-agm48h6l3_1\" alt=\"Battery\">\n<strong>Battery<\/strong>\n<\/a>\n\n<!-- end of editable content -->\n<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Nearly every driver is familiar with automotive batteries and the all-too-common occurrence of needing a jumpstart. Much like the batteries&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-check-car-battery\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":11074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3744],"tags":[73,1208],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-11052","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-ignition-system","9":"tag-battery","10":"tag-battery-cable-2","11":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Check Your Car Battery &amp; Battery Cables - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You should be checking your battery and battery cables on a regular basis, and not only when there&#039;s something wrong. Read on and find out why.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-check-car-battery\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Check Your Car Battery &amp; Battery Cables - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You should be checking your battery and battery cables on a regular basis, and not only when there&#039;s something wrong. Read on and find out why.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-check-car-battery\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-06-30T12:28:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-03-18T23:47:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/car-battery-photo.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-check-car-battery\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-check-car-battery\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"29\",\"name\":\"Mia Bevacqua\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Mia Bevacqua has over 14 years of experience in the auto industry and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Advanced Automotive Systems. 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