Finding out your car won’t start due to a dead battery is a guaranteed way to ruin anyone’s day. In many circumstances, the cause of your battery’s loss of charge is obvious, such as keeping your headlights or radio on overnight, but in others, the situation is less evident. In any event, your main priority is to recharge your battery, so you can continue with your day. Your next issue is identifying whether or not this problem will reoccur, so you may need to properly maintain your battery, or have it replaced totally.
When you turn your ignition key, and nothing happens, it is a solid sign that you have a dead battery. If, on the other hand, your car attempts to start but fails, it could be an indication of several problems, the most common of which is a failing battery. However, until you find proof to the contrary, consider this scenario similar to the first because it has the easiest solution. Even if a faulty alternator is at the bottom of the problem, the following methods for dealing with a dead battery will often get you back on the road and allow you to fix the immediate issue.
Life Expectancy of a Battery
Knowing how long car batteries last is important whether you have a new battery or are still using the original. The presence of batteries is obscure and misunderstood. Many batteries do not exhibit the warning signals of impending breakdown that some batteries do. While having an extensive array of warning signs that a battery failure is imminent would be ideal, it is preferable to prevent some of the primary problems that lead to battery failures first and then act quickly when warning signs do appear.
It is critical to understand that no battery lasts forever, but certain variables can significantly reduce battery life, sometimes very quickly. You’ll need to replace your battery at some time, whether you park your car all year or drive it every day. The average car battery life is three to five years. Pushing a battery for more than five years, even under optimum driving conditions, may cause it to fail without warning. As a result, several manufacturers advocate for a five-year replacement cycle. If your battery is three or more years old, consider getting it evaluated. Consider having it checked every season or every oil change.
NOTE: Always seek the advice of a professional car mechanic when working with batteries. Batteries can be very dangerous to work with.
Signs That Your Battery is Failing
Slow Starting
Slow cranks indicate that the battery does not have enough power to start the car. The variation in cranking speed is small over the usual automotive battery life, but it is exacerbated when the battery fails.
Leaks or Corrosions
Examine the battery tops for corrosion or signs of acid in the battery tray below. While corrosion on the terminals does not immediately condemn a battery, it will eventually lead to a failed terminal. It begs the question of how long a car battery should endure. Leakage is frequently indicative of a structural breakdown or overcharging.
No Start
If your battery suddenly dies – that is, you turn the key and hear a click or buzzing – jump-starting the car and continuing with your day is not an option unless it is an emergency. Many times, the headlights or dash lights will operate well, but when you try to start the car, it will click. Charge and test the battery as soon as possible, as well as the other components of the charging system. If the problem persists after replacing the battery, a parasitic drain on the battery is possible, and it must be investigated.
Presence of a Foul Smell
If a foul odor occurs, it is a sure symptom of sulfuric acid. If you smell this, your battery is probably very unstable and has either been overcharged or has an internal structural problem.
Methods for Dealing with a Dead Battery
1. Clean the Battery Terminals
If there is white, blue, or green powdery accumulation around your terminals, a good connection between your battery and your battery cables may be compromised. Cleaning them may reestablish this connection enough to get your vehicle started again, but because the buildup is acidic, you should have your battery checked right away to get to the bottom of the problem.
2. Jump-Starting Your Vehicle
If you have access to another running vehicle, jump-starting your dead battery is probably your best bet for getting back on the road soon. You may not have any further problems after this, but if you find yourself needing a jump-start frequently, your battery may need to be replaced or serviced.
3. Battery Charger Usage
If you have a battery charger on hand and are in a situation where your vehicle’s battery dies, and you don’t have access to another running vehicle, you can revive your battery. If you have the patience to wait, this works just as well as a jump start but takes a bit longer.
4. Identify Whether a Replacement Is Required
Car batteries are one of the most important components under the hood of your vehicle. They are in charge of providing your engine with the initial electric charge that allows it to start. Unfortunately, if your car battery sits in your car for an extended period, you may need to replace it because batteries have a limited lifetime of a couple of years. It is critical for you to learn about the frequent warning signals that your car’s battery is ready to fail before it happens. In this manner, you can substitute for dealing with unexpected big problems in the middle of nowhere.
How to Prevent Battery Discharge
Routine testing and tracking the lifespan of your battery will give you a good notion of when to replace a car battery. As your battery nears the end of its useful life, it’s time to think about the best battery replacement and budget for one. In the meanwhile, there are a few things you can do to get the most out of your battery life.
Make Use of a Battery Maintainer
A battery maintainer keeps a low-amperage charge on your battery on demand, preventing sluggish discharge. Keep in mind that slow drain and recharge will eventually destroy a perfectly excellent battery.
Remove the Corrosion
Check the battery terminals for corrosion regularly and keep the posts and clamps clean. Battery corrosion washers and dielectric oil will assist in preventing corrosion.
Do Not Use Accessories for Extended periods
Consider an auxiliary battery or a deep cycle-starting combo battery that is better suited for discharge and recharge if you throw the stereo on in the truck out at the campsite to listen to the football game over the weekend, or if you spend any time powering objects with the car off.
Never Take off Safety Blankets
Many automobiles include shields or heat blankets that surround the battery as protection. These gadgets eventually degrade or are removed and thrown away. Keep these on hand because they are intended to shield the battery from the hot components underneath the hood.
Regular Battery Testing
Whatever replacement battery you choose, the main thing is to keep track of what’s going on with your vehicle and understand when it’s time to test or replace the car battery. Although there may be no warning signals, a battery test and a consistent schedule are critical for preventing unexpected failure. Whether you change your battery every three years or keep it for five years or more, keep a close eye on its power and ability to hold a charge. This will lessen your chances of becoming stuck and will keep your vehicle powered as you go. Your local Automobile Shop can meet all of your battery requirements.
Please feel free to call a knowledgeable professional if you do not feel comfortable solving your dead battery problems on your own. Have a specialist check your battery for more significant issues after using a battery charger or jumping to recharge it. He or she will evaluate the battery’s state of health and take the necessary action, whether that be to service the current battery you have or buy a new one.