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When to Replace a Car Battery
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To know when you should replace your care battery, you should know a little bit about it's internal construction and how it works. All batteries in vehicles are what are called electrochemical cells, which make electricity through a chemical reaction inside the battery itself. A bunch of these "cells" are hooked together to provide roughly 12 "Volts" of electrical output from the battery . Each cell of them is made up of the metal lead and lead oxide electrodes, which are kept dipped in a weak sulfuric acid. This is why batteries are so heavy. Electrical current is supplied and then stored by the chemical reactions that happen inside the battery. Vehicle batteries are "rechargeable" and get recharged by the vehicle's alternator. Let's look at when you should replace your battery.
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Symptoms of Battery Failure
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To know how well a car battery is performing, you to have the battery tested. One of our trained technicians will use a tool called a voltmeter to check on how much voltage the battery is putting out, both with and also without an electrical load applied. If the battery drops fairly far below the 12 Volt level without load, the batteries performance is not up to where it should be. One of the major reasons for a drop battery in performance is called "sulfation", which is when lead sulphate gets crystallized inside the battery during normal operation. This is one way the battery "wears out".
Besides having a dip in the voltage output, another sign of a battery that needs replacement is a cracked outer case, which then allows the electrolyte stored inside to be exposed to the atmosphere.
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When to Replace Your Honda's Battery
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Since there is no fixed rule or time when to get your battery replaced, when you should do it depends on a few things; 1) how heavily the battery gets used, 2) the quality of your current battery, 3) the weather conditions you use it in, and 4) the level of maintenance you've done on the battery.
When you notice any of signs and symptoms of battery failure or degraded performance listed above, it is time you get the battery tested, and then start shopping for a replacement. It's better to invest your money in purchasing a new battery instead of trying to get one repaired. Expert car repair mechanics usually recommend a battery replacement about every 3 to 4 years.
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Heather Cannon Honda
3415 N. 14th St.
Ponca City, OK 74601
Sales: (888) 572-4823
Service: (888) 571-8270
Parts: (888) 571-8270
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Service
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Mon - Fri |
7:30 to 5:30p
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Saturday: |
8:00 to 2:00p | |
Sunday:
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Closed
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Sales
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Mon - Fri |
8:30 to 7:00p
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Saturday: |
8:30 to 5:00p | |
Sunday:
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Closed
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