Check the voltage
Carefully remove the covers on the battery terminals and connect the positive side of the voltmeter to the positive (red) terminal first. Then connect the negative side of the voltmeter to the negative (black) terminal. Now, check your reading. A healthy battery should read between 12.4V and 12.7V.
Place the positive multimeter lead on the positive battery terminal and the negative lead on the negative terminal. Have a helper turn the ignition on for no longer than 15 seconds and watch the multimeter. If the battery voltage drops below 9.6 volts, this is an indicator of a weak battery.
Some cars will get up to five or six years out of their battery, while others will need a new one after only two years. In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance.
Factors that can shorten its life include an extended period of partial or full discharge, vibration from not being properly secured, under- or overcharging, extreme temperatures, water loss, electrolyte contamination and corrosion on terminals.
An effective method to determine whether it's your battery or alternator that's gone bad is to connect jumper cables from a running vehicle's battery to yours. After a few moments, try starting your vehicle. Once it's started, remove the jumper cables — if your engine stalls, your alternator has probably gone bad.
“Electrical devices or lights left running, a defective charging system or alternator, and extreme weather are some common reasons but maybe it's just time to get a new battery.”
Batteries gradually deteriorate until they can no longer provide enough power to start an engine. This wear time could take three to five years and a vehicle's usage pattern is one factor contributing to the rate at which a battery will age.
Service experts estimate that you should replace your car battery every four to five years.
Extreme temperatures, frequent short trips, and general everyday use could shorten the life of your battery to two to three years. If your car battery dies quickly, even after a jumpstart, it might be time for a new one.
Most car batteries will last between 500 and 1,000 charging cycles, which works out to a lifespan of between three and five years, depending on driving and weather conditions.
Average Price of a Car Battery
Based on the make and model of your vehicle, you can expect to pay around $50 to $120 for a standard car battery and around $90 to $200 for a premium type.
Deep discharges, heat, vibration, fast charging, and overcharging all accelerate the "aging" process. Approximately 50% of premature car battery failures is caused by the loss of water for normal recharging charging due to the lack of maintenance, evaporation from high under hood heat, or overcharging.
Depending on power, size, and quality, prices for a replacement car battery range from about $45 to $250. Your local dealership, auto parts store or automotive service center can check your current battery or hook you up with a new car battery.
Car batteries are expensive components in your car. A good thing is the fact you can recondition them and end up with a new battery. The main fact you should know is that a reconditioned battery will have up to 70% of the power of a brand-new unit, but this is more than your car needs.
Keeping the state of battery charge, from 0 percent to 100 percent , also improves the performance of the battery life of your vehicle. Even though a full charge will give you the maximum operating time, it is never a good idea for the overall lifespan of your battery.
There are many variables that come into play when figuring out a battery's lifespan. Some batteries, you buy and continue working for 10 or more years without issue. Sometimes, though, you install a battery and it gives up after only a couple of years.
Generally, electric vehicle batteries last 10-20 years, but some factors may reduce their lifespan.
Jump-starting your car battery once is not a problem. However, if you have to jump-start your battery up to three times a week, it's time to get a replacement, as it is probably damaged. Also, when jumping-start a car, avoid cranking it more than three times if the car refuses to start.