Faulty or flat batteries are a very common cause of car breakdowns. You can avoid unnecessary stress and expense by ensuring your car battery is in good working order.

Eastern Tyre Centre is your car battery expert, providing you with the right advice to ensure you get a high quality product that is suitable to your needs.

Lifetime of a Battery

The life of a battery depends on several factors including how regularly the vehicle is driven and in what climate, and whether the battery is properly installed.

How regularly the vehicle is driven

Car batteries have a natural amount of selfc-discharge, or internal chemical leakage. In order to keep the electrical systems of modern cars ‘alive’, tiny amounts of power are drawn from the battery when the engine is off. If not driven, the battery will be completely drained of power over time.

Correct battery installation

It goes without saying that a battery that is installed improperly can be very damaging. For instance, if the leads aren’t connected to the correct terminals, the polarity of the current is affected, causing it to flow in ‘reverse’ polarity. This can damage sensitive electrical systems and fuses, and potentially cause an explosion within the battery. Always have a car battery installed by a professional.

The climate in which the vehicle is driven

Believe it or not, warmer climates can reduce the lifespan of a battery. This is due to increased water loss, heat distortion and, because of searing temperatures under the bonnet, more rapid corrosion. The result – reduced battery capacity, weakened ability to start an engine, and a shorter life.

Replacing your battery

Once a battery has reached the three year mark, it is advisable to have it inspected yearly.

The battery warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard is a clear indicator that your battery is experiencing problems, however, there are other indicators to keep an eye out for, including:

  • Vehicle takes longer to start than normal
  • Battery may appear swollen due to exposure to excessive amounts of heat or cold
  • Vehicle may have trouble starting
  • Evidence of corrosion and stains around battery terminal

When purchasing a new battery for your vehicle, the staff at Eastern Tyre Centre will help you to assess important factors such as environmental conditions, driving habits and use of powered accessories.

As a BestDrive centre we carry a large range of battery types suited to most vehicles, and we can test or replace your battery on the spot!

Is it the battery or the starter motor?

Your starter motor is responsible for – you guessed it – starting the engine. It does this by drawing power from the battery and using it to turn over the engine. Needless to say, if it’s not working, neither will your car.

So, when the car won’t start, how do you know whether the starter motor or the battery is responsible? Thankfully, if a faulty starter motor is the culprit, there are some tell-tale signs:

  • You hear a clicking sound when you turn the key.
  • The engine doesn’t start but the dashboard lights up.
  • Engine doesn’t turn over when jump-starting.

Either way, our expert team will have a diagnosis for you in no time.