How Often Should You Replace Your Car Battery?

[VanGiselle]

Generally, a car battery should be replaced every 2 to 3 years. Here are some methods to determine if your car battery needs replacement: 1. Measure the voltage. This is the simplest and most effective method. Normally, the no-load voltage of a battery is around 13V. If the no-load voltage is below 10V during testing, it indicates that the battery needs replacement, otherwise, you might experience difficulty starting the vehicle or even fail to start it. Additionally, many car infotainment systems come with battery voltage monitoring, and the readings can be used as a reference. 2. Check the appearance. Look for any bulging around the battery, similar to a swollen phone battery, which means the battery has reached the end of its lifespan and must be replaced. Also, check for white or green powder around the battery; these oxides indicate that the battery's lifespan is over. 3. Inspect the charge indicator. For maintenance-free batteries, you can determine the condition through the charge indicator: green indicates sufficient charge, yellow means slightly low charge, and black means the battery needs replacement.