What are the signs of a bad car battery?

Answer 1

if the car starts harder the first time of the day, than the rest this is an indication. If you leave your lights on for a short period of time, then you don't have the power to start, it is an indication of a weak battery. If your car will start better after you have driven for an extended period of time, and restart it right away, but it doesn't start as well when it sits for an hour or two. If your car starts worse when it is warm or hot, this is usually an indication of a bad or worn starter. if you notice a decrease in power, you should clean your battery cables, and check the water level in your battery. Many batteries are sealed, but if yours has raised caps, use a screwdriver to pry the caps off. The water level should be about an eighth of an inch above the top of the lead plates. if one or two of the cells have a significantly lower water level, they are probably bad cells. Use distilled water to raise the water level to desired mark. Do not overfill, it will just get pushed out. Many shops will do a free hydrometer and load test on a battery, as well as check the status of your alternator. Remember it is always cheaper to replace a bad battery than to wait, and have to replace the alternator too--bad batteries are the largest cause for premature alternator failure.