345 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066

How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Car Battery

 

One maintenance cost that is inevitable for any automobile owner is replacing the battery. How much is a replacement car battery? That depends on a few factors, including whether you choose to install it yourself or have a professional at our service center. Even determining how often to replace a car battery can vary, depending on weather and driving conditions. We’ll talk about how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced below. We’ll also talk about how to test a car battery.

How Much is a Replacement Car Battery?

You can expect to pay anywhere from $75 and $120, depending on the size and type of battery required by your car. Premium batteries are a little pricier, of course, costing from $90 to $200. But that’s just the cost of the battery itself, without factoring the cost of installing it. How much is a replacement car battery if it’s installed by a mechanic? It depends on the make and model of your car. Fortunately, you can take advantage of our service specials to get a good deal.

How Often to Replace a Car Battery

Most batteries are built to operate for three to five years. But how often to replace a car battery can depend on a few different factors. Batteries in cars that need to be started several times a day for short trips generally don’t last as long as the ones in cars that are taken for longer trips. Harsh weather conditions, something we don’t have to worry about here in San Francisco, are likewise rough on a battery.

How to Know if Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

It’s better to see the signs that your battery is nearing the end of its life well before it actually dies. That way you can avoid being broken down.

How to Know if Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced

  • Your car takes a long time to start
  • There are bulges in the battery
  • The check engine light is flashing (there could be other reasons for this)
  • The battery has leaks

How to Test a Car Battery

Most Oakland drivers don’t have a multimeter lying around their garages. But if you do, and want to test your battery yourself, follow the directions below. Otherwise, schedule an appointment with our service center.

How to Test a Car Battery

  • Connect a multimeter to the positive and negative terminals while the engine is not running. You want to see voltage around 12.6 volts.
  • Start the car and check the multimeter.
  • Ideally, the voltage should be around 10. If it drops below 5 volts, replace your battery. 

Let the Battery Pros at Victory Honda of San Bruno Handle It

The trained experts at our service center can quickly determine if your battery needs to be replaced. Schedule an appointment or just bring your car in. And, if you found this guide to be helpful, check out our post on removing and installing a battery. We’re just a short drive away from Hayword, so drop by or contact us today.

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345 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA, 94066
Victory Honda of San Bruno 37.6209083, -122.4138099.