Most of the time, your car's battery silently works to provide power to start your vehicle. Sometimes, though, you may notice your car struggling to start. In some cases, this problem is caused by a battery that isn't charged to the proper level. To determine if your battery needs to be charged, though, we at Lithia Chrysler Jeep of Reno recommend further investigation. To help you figure out what's wrong with your vehicle, here are a few signs that your car's battery needs to be charged.
The easiest way to check your car's battery is to use a voltmeter. The voltage on your battery should read 12 volts or higher to ensure consistent engine starts. If it's lower than 12 volts, then your car's battery needs to be charged.
Another way you know that your car's battery needs to be charged is if your vehicle's accessories aren't performing correctly. While the accessories are largely powered by the engine when the vehicle is running in Reno, NV, they are powered by the battery when the engine is off. Therefore, if your lights dim or your radio volume decreases, it's likely that your car's battery needs to be charged.