Don’t Ignore Your Battery

Almost Everyone Who Drives Knows the Frustration of a Failed Vehicle Battery.

No matter when a battery fails to start a car, it never seems to be at a convenient time or place, and the complications of finding and installing a replacement battery can seem endless.

Knowing what to expect from a vehicle battery - and what can be done to prevent inconvenient battery failure - are the keys to avoiding this common and stressful event.

Despite warranties that claim an expected battery life of four to six years, many vehicle batteries fail after three or four years, or even sooner, said Ken Cousin, Emergency Road Service Operations Centre Manager. The constant chemical reaction inside a lead-acid battery, vibration caused by driving and extreme changes in temperature all conspire to rob a battery of its ability to be recharge.

Last year, BCAA's emergency road service professionals responded to over 200,000 calls from members with cars that wouldn't start. Many of these calls involved batteries that could not be recharged. In many other cases, car owners assumed their vehicle battery would be fine after a jump-start, only to experience a second battery failure the next time they tried to re-start the vehicle.

Years of experience and millions of calls for help have demonstrated to BCAA that most vehicle batteries are allowed to fail by car owners. This is because car batteries are seldom tested as part of a regular vehicle inspection and maintenance routine, and because many owners assume their vehicle battery will last much longer than it actually will.

"To end this frustration motorists will need to change their thinking about batteries," said Cousin. "New technology has made it possible to reliably determine the condition of a vehicle battery in a few minutes without removing the battery from the vehicle. This test should be requested by vehicle owners anytime they have their vehicle inspected."

The major functions of the battery are to supply current that the starter motor that starts the engine, provide power to electrical components and accessories. When the vehicle’s engine is not running and to supply current when the electrical system load exceeds charging system capability. The battery also acts as a voltage stabilizer.

Before replacing a battery, have the battery, electrical and vehicle-charging system checked for problems. Look for an automotive service facility with the tools and training needed to determine why a vehicle electrical system is not performing properly. BCAA recommends facilities that are listed on the BCAA Approved Auto Repair program.