Your car's battery is a vital component, but one that is well-known for developing problems. If you are noticing electrical problems or reduced battery life, then it is time to check your battery for corrosion.
It may also be time to bring your car in for a battery check at Hallmark Hyundai North Service, our family-owned dealership in the Flowood community.
We're here to help residents of Madison County understand what it means when their car battery has corrosion on it and what you can do to prevent it.
What Does Battery Corrosion Look Like?
Battery corrosion looks like a buildup of crumbly or ashy residue, which can be white or blue in color. This is typically visible around your battery's terminals and can be very unsightly. Most times this can be spotted by popping the hood of your car and having a look at your car battery terminals.
Why Battery Corrosion is Bad
Corrosion acts as a barrier between your battery cables and your vehicle. This means that your battery is neither charging properly nor discharging properly.
In extreme cases, this can mean that your vehicle simply won't start.
Most of the time, however, your car will start fine, but onboard electronics will start to have issues. You might, for example, notice that your air conditioning is not working as well and that your fuel mileage drops when the a/c is on.
Some other common problems could include your backup camera flickers or your headlights don't seem to reach full brightness.
Battery terminal corrosion can lead to your car's performance declining over time generally.
What Causes Corrosion on Car Batteries?
Battery terminal corrosion has multiple causes, all originating from the same source. Batteries are composed of a mixture of sulfuric acid and water. When the gases or liquid inside the battery comes into contact with the metal on the outside, a chemical reaction occurs. Battery corrosion is caused by a chemical reaction. There are multiple ways this can happen. Here are the most common:
- The age of the battery. Batteries should be replaced every three to five years.
- A battery leak. Batter leaks can happen if the battery is cracked or damaged. If you are in an accident, have your battery checked for leaks. Leaks can also happen if somebody drops a battery while cleaning or maintaining it.
- Overcharging or undercharging the battery.
The most common cause, however, is simply age. Your battery's typical lifespan varies, and you should check with your dealer to find out what it is for your vehicle.
Preventing Battery Corrosion
Car batteries are intended to last three to five years. If your battery is more than three years old and you see any electrical issues, it is time for a new battery. Here are some helpful tips for Madison
County Residents who are looking to prevent early battery corrosion:
- Avoid abrupt stopping and accelerating, which helps your battery charge properly but also saves you gas in the long run.
- Have your battery checked regularly. Also, have it checked after an accident or if you dropped it.
Something else to consider: don't overcharge your battery.
This can be caused by a faulty alternator, but the most common reason is an external charger that doesn't stop sending power when the battery is full. If you notice corrosion only on the positive terminal, this can indicate overcharging.
Corrosion on the negative battery terminal is a sign of undercharging, which most often happens if you take short trips and use a lot of electronics in your vehicle.
Fortunately, our team at Hallmark Hyundai North Service can check your alternator and voltage regulator if you have any concerns.
Schedule Service Today with Hallmark Hyundai North!
Our expert technicians can inspect your battery, help determine the cause of the corrosion, and clean it.
They can also help with a battery test to establish how your battery is performing. Finally, if you need a new battery, we have the correct one for your Hyundai in stock.
Contact Hallmark Hyundai North today. We are your locally-owned Madison County Hyundai dealer, allowing you to avoid impersonal national chains and get the service you deserve.
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