3 Signs Your Mitsubishi’s Battery Needs Replacement

The battery supplies the electrical charge that powers the starter. The starter, in turn, cranks the engine, and combustion begins. In time, the battery will weaken or become damaged. As your Mitsubishi dealership, we’d like you to know a few signs you need to visit us for a battery replacement.

Your Battery Is Old

The battery has a short lifespan of only three to five years. The battery stores electricity as chemical energy, and as time passes, the battery’s chemicals gradually break down naturally, causing its recharging rate to slow. The battery storage capacity also drops, making it difficult for an older battery to store enough electricity to power the starter.

The most common sign of a failing battery is a slow crank. The amount of electricity used to start the engine is relatively fixed, and an older battery with low storage capacity can’t supply the necessary power all at once. We’ll test your battery and replace it if it’s weak.

Damaged Alternator

The alternator is a small electrical generator that produces electricity for all vehicle systems. It’s also responsible for recharging the battery. The alternator starts recharging the battery at full power for ten minutes, then switches to charging at 10% of battery capacity until the battery is fully charged. The reduced recharging helps to protect the battery and alternator from damage.

A damaged alternator might not switch to reduced recharging. If this happens, it continues to charge the battery at full power. The battery can’t absorb so much electricity at once, and the electrolyte solution inside it will overheat and boil. If you smell a strange chemical odor from under the hood, your battery could be in trouble. We’ll install a new alternator and recharge the battery or replace it if it’s been damaged.

Loose Cables

The positive and negative terminals on the battery allow it to connect to the electrical system. An insulated cable with a lug on the end is connected to each terminal. The lugs are securely tightened against the terminals, as any gap prevents electricity from passing into or out of the battery.

When you drive, the cables move slightly. In time, this movement can create a gap between a lug and a terminal. If this happens, the battery is cut off from the electrical system and can’t recharge or supply power to start the engine. We’ll tighten the lugs to fix this issue.

If you have a battery problem, contact us today at Redondo Mitsubishi in Redondo Beach, CA.

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