Image via Bill Snethkamp CDJR.
The battery is one of the most important components in your RAM, as it must power the starter so your engine can crank and start combustion. A battery can fail due to age or problems caused by other parts of the electrical system. As your RAM dealer, we’d like you to know a few signs you need to visit us for a RAM battery replacement.
Bad Smell
The smell of rotten eggs wafting from the engine compartment indicates your battery is in trouble. This foul smell is caused by hydrogen sulfide, a corrosive and toxic chemical. Hydrogen sulfide isn’t naturally present in your engine, but it can start to form when sulfuric acid in the battery breaks down. This process releases hydrogen as a byproduct of the breakdown process, and the hydrogen floats into the engine compartment.
Sulfur is always present in your engine as it is naturally released from the fuel. The hydrogen and sulfur join to form hydrogen sulfide. This new gas is drawn to the battery terminals, forming an acidic salt. The acid eats into the terminals, causing the battery to weaken even further. We can clean the acidic salt, but it will return. Once we install a new battery, the corrosion and foul smell will stop.
Worn Alternator
The alternator is a small generator that spins at high speed to produce electricity for your RAM systems. It’s very efficient, producing more power than the systems require. As time passes, the alternator will slow down due to age and worn parts, affecting your vehicle’s electricity supply. Once the alternator starts to slow, the amount of power it supplies will steadily decrease and this can’t be prevented.
As the electricity supply decreases, your RAM will experience seemingly random electrical issues, ranging from dim lights to systems that suddenly fail and restart for no apparent reason. The alternator recharges the battery, and its reduced output means the battery will grow steadily weaken, and eventually fail as it uses more power than it can replenish. If the alternator is failing we can replace it in minutes to fix this issue.
Old Battery
One of the most common reasons for battery failure is age. The battery life is only three to five years, as the chemicals inside the battery gradually break down. The chemical breakdown releases hydrogen, as we saw above, but also reduces the battery’s electricity storage capacity.
The battery uses a relatively fixed amount of electricity to power the starter. As the battery weakens, it can’t store enough power for the starter, and starting your engine will become difficult. We’ll test the battery and replace it if it’s worn out.
If you have a battery problem, contact us today at Bill Snethkamp CDJR in Highland Park, MI.
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