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Car batteries usually last from three to five years, which means you'll have to replace your battery quite a few times over the lifespan of your Nissan. If you learn to identify the warning signs of a dying battery early on, you'll avoid awkward problems that a bad battery can cause, such as being stranded somewhere and unable to start your car. The following issues should prompt a quick visit to your nearest Nissan dealership for a new car battery. more Your Engine Won't Start When your engine is slow to start or refuses to start in the morning, it usually means one of three things: you drained the battery by leaving your headlights on overnight, your battery has died of old age, or your alternator has stopped recharging the battery properly. Jumpstarting your car will shed light on the cause. If the engine starts working well and the headlights also come on, then you probably left the headlights on overnight. If the engine's working well and keeps on running, your alternator is fine and your battery might need replacing. If your engine dies quickly after being jumpstarted, the alternator is most likely malfunctioning. Your Electronics Fail When the Engine's Off When charging properly and transmitting voltage well, your battery should keep the electronics in your car powered for several hours with the engine turned off. So if you find that your headlights and other electrical components are losing significant power as soon as you turn off the engine, something's wrong with your battery. Your Dashboard Battery Light Comes On Most battery problems or other electrical issues will cause the battery light to light up on your dashboard. This light may point to a variety of electrical problems. A technician can diagnose and repair the underlying problem for you. Your Battery's Warped or Corroded Age, heat, cold, and vibrations can all cause a battery to break down over time. Sometimes a worn-out battery's casing will begin to warp out of shape and the connectors may show signs of corrosion. If your battery looks damaged in these ways, it's time for a new one. You Smell Rotten Eggs When seriously warped, a battery's casing can sometimes crack open, allowing battery acid to leak out. This creates a strong sulfury smell, similar to that of rotten eggs, which you might smell in the cabin. A cracked and leaking battery most definitely needs to be replaced. How a Nissan Dealer Can Test Your Battery When your battery reaches three years of age, it's a good idea to start having it tested at your local dealership whenever you go in for an oil change. The technician can carry out various tests such as multimeter testing, conductance testing, and refractometer testing to see whether your battery's working well or it's on its last legs. Visit Ed Martin Nissan of Fishers today to have your battery replaced. We have over 600 new Nissan vehicles in our inventory and a nationally ranked-service department to fix battery issues and any other problems your car might have.

Your car battery powers your lights and accessories and starts your car. A car battery lasts between three and six years before it needs replacing. The following signs from your Nissan dealer will warn you when it's time for a new car battery before it's too late and your Altima, Pathfinder, or Titan gets you stuck next to the road with a dead battery. more 1. Electronic Issues When your battery is weak, one of the first signs is problems with your car's electronics. Your dashboard lights and headlight will dim, the windows and windshield wipers will move slower, and your heated seats and door locks will act up. 2. It's Hard To Start Your Car A battery on its way out will make it hard to start your car, and you might hear that tell-tale clicking sound when you turn the key in the ignition. The moment you have difficulty starting your car, see it as a warning to replace your battery as soon as possible before it fails and doesn't start your car at all. 3. There's Corrosion Around the Terminals That white stuff on top of the battery around the metal connections can cause voltage problems, making it difficult to get your car going. If there's just a little corrosion and it's not too bad, clean it off with a baking soda and water mixture and a brush. If it's eating away at the metal, replace the battery. 4. The Battery Case Is Damaged Exposure to extreme temperatures or too much current inside a battery cell can damage the battery case. Replace the battery if it looks bloated or has cracks in the battery case. 5. You Get a Nasty Whiff of Rotten Eggs A damaged battery case or an overcharged battery could release hydrogen sulfide that smells like rotten eggs. If you smell that awful odor inside the cabin or under the hood, replace the battery immediately. Over time the acidic gas will gnaw away at critical components under the hood. 6. Your Battery Is Old Batteries age and start to deteriorate due to extreme hot and cold temperatures and lack of maintenance. A good-quality battery can last up to six years. When your battery reaches the three-year mark, get it tested to see if you need a new one. 7. You Have To Jump-Start Your Car If you have to get the jumper cables out of the trunk regularly and ask a good samaritan to help you start your car, it's a sign that your battery has reached the end of its life. To avoid struggling with a weak or dead battery, ask your technician to inspect and test it regularly to determine if it still holds a charge. If you're struggling with battery issues, don't wait until you get stranded with a dead battery. Stop at Ed Martin Nissan of Fishers today for a range of top-quality, durable batteries you can rely on to keep your Nissan going.