How to Know When Your Car Battery Needs to Be Replaced Signs and Symptoms

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Check the level of electrolyte if the battery has removable caps.
If low fill to the bottom of the splash guard plastic tubes just below the caps.
Use distilled water to avoid contamination of the plates.
Some battery chargers have a pulse cycle that can clean and restore the plates.
Powdered terminals can also be due to current flowing across the top of the battery on oily dirt so keep it clean.
If your car sits for long periods charge the battery or use a trickle maintainer.
If it struggles to start don't crank it till it gives up or you can reverse a cell and it's ruined. Give it a charge.
If you leave the headlights on turn them off and wait for a few minutes to give the battery a chance to regenerate. Turn off all lights,wipers,radio etc. before cranking and if it struggles jump it or charge it.
If you off road or drive on rough roads you can shake the plates loose and be stuck. I used carpet to make a vibration damper on the bottom and sides.
AGM batteries are much better at surviving vibration and repeated discharges.