How To Find Your Car Battery Age
Like many car parts, batteries wear out over time. It's important that you replace your battery if you spot signs like an illuminated dashboard warning light, dimmed headlights, or a car that struggles to start. You can check your car battery's age by checking their manufacturer date, located on the top of the battery, which you can locate under your bonnet.
At National Tyres, all our car batteries are covered by a 4 or 5-year guarantee, depending on which you decide to buy. But how to tell the age of a car battery? And when should an old battery be replaced? In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about your car battery’s age and share some battery maintenance tips.
How to check car battery age?
If your car is brand new, then the battery will be the same age as the car. However, if you’re unsure whether your car’s battery was replaced before you bought it, here’s how you can easily find out the age of your car's battery.
The easiest way to determine the age of your battery is to locate it under the bonnet. Many batteries have a date on top of them which shows when they were manufactured. This battery date will help you figure out how old the battery is.
What does the date on a car battery mean?
Alternatively, you can find a code on the battery or battery cover. The first two characters in this code show the battery’s manufacturer date.
- The first character is a number, ranging from 0 to 9. This tells the last digit for the year of manufacture, for example, 9 would be 2019.
- The second character will tell you the month of manufacture, from A-L (January to December). For example, K would be November, so 9K or K9 would be November 2019.
The first two characters are interchangeable depending on who makes the battery.
How long do car batteries last?
Battery life can depend on a wide range of variables, so there’s no specific number for how many years a battery will last. Typically, batteries last anywhere between 3 and 5 years. Batteries degrade over time, so eventually, they won’t provide enough power to start the engine of your vehicle.
How to charge a car battery?
Longer drives, or around 30-60 minutes at motorway speeds, are useful as they allow your car time for the battery to fully recharge.
If a car isn’t used for a long period of time, you may end up with a flat battery. Although this doesn’t necessarily mean it needs replacing, as it could just require recharging or jump-starting. Short journeys may also decrease your battery's lifespan, as it may not have enough running time to recharge.
How to tell if your battery needs replacing?
There are several ways to determine if your car battery needs a replacement. Signs that your car battery needs a replacement, include:
- A battery warning light or engine warning light. If either of these are illuminated, you should have your car checked as soon as possible to avoid a breakdown.
- Difficulty starting your car. If your vehicle struggles to turn over, your battery may not be providing enough power to start the engine.
- Electrical issues like dimmed or flickering lights, as your battery struggles to start up your vehicle and power the electrical system.
If your vehicle is experiencing any of these issues, we offer a FREE battery health check at National, which you can book using the link below. This proactive examination checks the health of your battery, including its voltage, start capacity and overall condition.
Free Battery Check
Explore More About Car Batteries
Fitting a replacement battery
If you’re unsure what size battery is right for your vehicle, you can locate this in your owner’s manual.
You can have your new car battery fitted at a location of your choice with mobile battery fitting! We'll come to a location that suits you, whether that be at home on your driveway or at work. To find out more and book a mobile battery fitting, click the button below.
Mobile Battery Fitting
Alternatively, pop by your local National Tyres branch for a garage battery fitting and fuss-free experience. You can book online by following the button below.
Shop Car Batteries
Did you enjoy this blog post? |
40 people found this review helpful
Sign up for SPECIAL OFFERS
