Looking To Buy Used Car Batteries? Three Warning Signs That You Should Skip A Particular Used Battery

Car batteries can be expensive. If you are in need of a new battery but money is tight, you may be considering buying a used car battery. If you go to a salvage car lot, you can often find batteries for your vehicle at a cheap price. However, there are some indicators that you need to look for when you are looking for a used car battery. Here are three signs that a battery may not be in the best shape or have much life left in them. 

The Battery Has Dents or Dings

You should avoid buying automobile batteries that have dings or dents in them. The dings or dents that are present on the exterior of the battery may impact the inside of the battery and the way the battery is able to store and transfer power. Damage can reduce the amount of battery life and how much power a battery can produce. 

There Is Corrosion Around the Battery Terminals

As batteries age, they may begin to corrode around the battery terminals. While you can clean the corrosion away, you should be cautious about buying a used car battery that has corrosion present or signs of past corrosion, such as discolored terminals. This may indicate the battery is old or leaking. 

There Is Rust Present Anywhere on the Battery

Finally, avoid any used car batteries that have rust present anywhere on the body of the battery. Rust is extremely hard to remove from a battery. It can also eat away at and weaken metal, which can shorten the lifespan of the unit. Rust may not appear to be too bad, but there may be rust inside of the battery that you cannot see, so it is best to simply skip batteries with rust. 

Paying attention to what a battery looks like can help you to determine if the battery may be in good shape or in bad shape. If you notice any of these signs, the battery is rough and should be avoided. Additionally, also keep in mind that you can buy a battery tester for fairly cheap online or at auto repair shapes. A battery tester allows you to test the battery and see how much life the battery may have left in it. If you plan on buying used batteries often, it may be worth it to purchase one of these battery testers to help you find the best batteries at a junkyard.