USED CAR BATTERIES TORONTO

When outside temperatures fall below 0 degrees, you may experience a general slower start of your vehicle. When it gets colder, the process gets even slower as you can hear your starter spinning slower than it would when it's warm out. If you notice this behavior but the weather is still nice, then you may need to get your battery tested. Don't ignore it!

If your lights and radio both work, but all you get is a click when you turn the key, then your battery may not have the capacity to spin the starter motor. The purpose of the battery is to provide a high amperage current to the starter. You may jump-start or boost the battery but it's a temporary solution. Get the battery tested as soon as possible and do not rely on the alternator to charge your battery, as there may also be a problem with slow charging with your alternator, especially on older vehicles.

If your battery is swollen and deformed, this is usually a result of overcharging by the vehicle's alternator and a malfunctioning voltage regulator. The battery has a build up of hydrogen gases which the battery wasn't able to expunge on it's own. This damage is permanent and you will need to replace both the battery and alternator.

If your battery is emitting an odour, it's a good sign it's about to fail, if it hasn't already. You can smell a strong acidic smell, which means your battery is venting sulfuric acid gas. This could be harmful to other components under the hood, so change that battery ASAP!

If you were driving down the road and all of a sudden your vehicle lost all electrical power and has shut off, this is a good sign that you have a bad alternator. The alternator is what gives the vehicle it's electrical power while running and also intermittently charges the battery as you drive. If you notice a red battery warning light on your dash as you drive, this means that alternator has failed and your vehicle is running from the battery power. You have very limited time to get off the roadway at this point. Depending on the battery type and your vehicle, you can have from 5-20 minutes of running power left.