Checking the car battery at every service visit

The car battery (accumulator) is an essential component for the proper operation of modern vehicles, yet it is often overlooked if the engine appears to start normally. In reality, a car battery can have significantly reduced capacity without showing obvious signs.

❄️ Problems appear exactly when conditions become challenging

During the cold season or when traveling to low-temperature areas (for example, a short ski trip), a lead-acid, AGM, or EFB battery that is already near the end of its service life will quickly reveal its weaknesses. Low temperatures reduce available capacity and increase the current required for engine starting.

🔋 A battery may “seem fine” but be close to failure

If the vehicle is kept in a garage and started frequently at moderate temperatures, the degradation of a start-stop battery (AGM / EFB) can easily go unnoticed. In most cases, the real loss of capacity becomes evident only when the battery fails completely.

⚙️ Modern vehicles are sensitive to voltage fluctuations

Today’s vehicles rely on a stable electrical supply. A weakened car battery can cause:

• intermittent errors in comfort control units,

• unstable operation of the electric power steering system,

• problems within the fuel injection system (including piezo injectors),

• warning messages with no obvious cause.

In many cases, these symptoms do not directly point to the battery, and the true cause is identified only after proper testing.

🧪 Why a dedicated battery test is necessary

A simple voltage measurement is not sufficient. Only a professional battery tester for lead-acid, AGM, or EFB batteries can accurately assess:

• remaining capacity,

• cold cranking amperage (CCA),

• internal resistance and overall wear level.

Battery testing following this procedure should be a standard practice in modern automotive service centers and is recommended by manufacturers across the automotive industry.

🔧 Auto Life recommendation – car battery inspection

Regardless of the season or the type of car battery (conventional, AGM, or EFB start-stop), battery testing should be included at every service visit. It is a quick, low-cost preventive measure that can help avoid unexpected failures and emergency repairs.