Services
Insurance
Loans
Repairs
Advice
About

How do you know if your battery terminals are bad?

My sister just took her car in and said that her mechanic told her her battery terminals were fried. It made me a little curious—how do you know if your battery terminals are bad?

avatar
Natalie Todoroff · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Good question! It’s always better to know the signs ahead of time. Here’s how you know if your battery terminals are bad:
  • Issues starting your engine: When you turn on your engine, hear a loud crank, and your engine won’t start
  • Loss of electrical power: This can present itself as flickering headlights, a slowed navigation system (if your car has one), and dimmer
    dashboard lights
  • Corroded battery: Pop the hood and peek at your battery. You’ve probably got bad battery terminals if you see blue or white powder on the battery or along its cables
Once you notice these signs, it’s time to replace your battery terminals to keep your engine running smoothly. Along with a working battery, having a great
car insurance
is also pivotal to keeping your car in great shape. Downloading
Jerry
can help you find a policy in minutes!
Jerry’s
super app
is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you. After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to.
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings