Battery: replacement and selection

When and why car battery needs replacement

Average lifetime expectancy of lead-acid batteries is 4 years, gel batteries can serve for up to 7 years. Amongst defects, leading to premature breakdown of these components, are housing damage, sulfation of plates, short circuit, electrolyte boiling out, polarity violation.

Breakdown of the battery can be caused by malfunction of the alternator or its belt, incorrect installation of car electric equipment, overcharge of the unit with large current, usage of incompatible electrolyte, defects of battery fasteners, improper battery charging during which polarity is violated, continuous storing of a discharged battery or repeated full discharges.

Most of all, component malfunctions manifest themselves through electric equipment failures, particularly, troubled engine starting. Decreased capacity, altered voltage values during charging and discharging also point at a defect. Besides, improper operation is indicated by too fast or too slow charging and discharging, overheating, gas formation and harsh scent from the unit. Replacement of the battery should be performed at a service station. Demounting of a defective device is laborious and requires removal of many components. Moreover, replacement of batteries with liquid electrolyte entails the risk of contacting with aggressive chemical compounds, which is very dangerous.

How to select battery

The car batteries are divided into low maintenance and maintenance-free ones. The first ones require regular control of density and level of electrolyte.