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3 Signs That Your Dodge Needs a New Car Battery

Close view of the engine under the hood of a Dodge Durango | Dodge service in Hampton, VA | Banister CDJR Hampton

Battery problems can occur over time as the battery slowly weakens and the chemicals inside it break down. The chemical breakdown reduces the battery's storage capacity and complicates its ability to supply an electrical charge. As your Dodge dealer, we'd like you to know some signs that you need to visit us for a new car battery.

Engine Starts, Then Dies

The battery provides the power that energizes the starter, which then cranks your engine. When the engine cranks, the combustion process begins and will continue to run your Dodge until you turn the engine off. If your battery is weak, you could experience the bizarre situation of your engine starting and going dead again within seconds.

Once the engine is running, the alternator starts spinning and producing electricity for all the systems. In the delay between the engine starting and the alternator starting, the battery must supply electricity to all the systems. A weak battery might not have enough power to sustain this, and the engine will shut down. We'll test your battery and replace it if it's the source of the trouble.

Slow Starting

Starting problems are one of the first signs of a weakening battery. The battery supplies a powerful charge to power the starter, and a weak battery may not have enough stored electricity to do this. You'll notice that starting your car in winter is more difficult, as the low temperatures here in Hampton, VA, will cause the battery to lose at least 20% of its capacity.

Slow starting doesn't necessarily mean that your battery is going bad. We'll test your battery, and if it successfully holds and supplies a charge, something else is causing the fault. A parasitic drain, an electrical component that doesn't switch off when it should, could be draining your battery. Our expert technicians will find and repair or replace the cause of the problem.

Swollen Battery

A battery has a thick plastic casing to protect its contents from dirt and other contamination. This is usually rectangular with straight sides. If you check your battery and it looks swollen or misshapen, it's failing. A distorted case is a sign that the pressure inside the battery is too high, and this pressure forces the electrolyte solution to expand and damage the case.

High pressure in a battery can be caused by the alternator overcharging the battery or due to extremely low temperatures. In either situation, the electrolyte solution will have been damaged and the battery will weaken. We can't repair this type of damage, but we can install a new battery right away.

Battery problems are quick to resolve and can prevent many other potential issues. Contact our service department today at Banister CDJR Hampton in Hampton, VA.

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