Dead Car Battery? What are the Signs…
It’s always a good idea to know how much time a car battery will last. No one wants to deal with a dead car battery. And the reason for that is this kind of information isn’t always something the driver knows. In fact a lot of people believe that a Car Battery will last forever, and that’s not the case at all. You will need a battery replacement from time to time. That’s why when you encounter some car trouble, it might very well be from the car battery, so you have to take that into consideration and see what causes this issue to begin with.
What affects the Car Battery life?
There are multiple factors that will increase or lower the Car Battery life. Environmental factors, temperature, humidity and the way you use your Car Battery can obviously become problems. That’s the reason why you want to address such a problem quickly in the first place. It’s actually going to be worth it and the great approach is that you can do it in no time without worries.
However, just because you have a car battery that works, that doesn’t mean it will run indefinitely. Even if you take good care of it, you don’t expose the vehicle to the elements and so on, you will still end up with issues, and that’s the thing you want to think about. Those issues will not be something extremely simple to deal with, but in the end you have to address that the best way that you can.
Signs Of A Dead or Dying Car Battery:
- Old battery. This seems obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. …
- Slow to start. This is the classic bad battery symptom. …
- Cranks or clicks, but won’t start. …
- Dash lights work, but car won’t start. …
- More frequent jump starts. …
- Heavy corrosion or film.
How do you know if your alternator is bad or bad battery?
How do you troubleshoot the the problem is really a dead car battery or the alternator? If you go to start your car and the engine does start, but dies immediately, the likely culprit is probably you alternator and not the battery. This is because your alternator is not keeping the battery charged. If you jumpstart your car and it stays running, but it wont start again, a dead car battery is most likely this issue.
Signs of a bad alternator
If you have gone through the steps above and the car battery is working. Then your problem is a bad alternator.
- Dim interior lights. While running the car, note the brightness of the interior lights. If the dashboard gradually dims, the alternator is likely at fault.
- Dim or overly bright headlights. Do you notice your headlights running brighter as you accelerate and dimming as you stop? This is often caused by the alternator not keeping the battery adequately charged.
- Growling noises. Did you hear a growling sound before the trouble started? That sometimes occurs before an alternator fails.
- Smell of burning rubber or hot wire. Are there signs your alternator is overheating, such as the smell of burning rubber or hot wires? If so, it’s time to replace it.
- Test the alternator. Some may recommend running the engine with the negative battery cable disconnected to test the alternator. However, this is not a good idea because it could damage the electrical system of your vehicle and cause greater problems.
Sources: Excerpt taken from Nationwide Insurance
How long should you keep your battery?
The reality is that the battery fluid will end up causing issues after some years and you can have car trouble. That’s why you need to go to a local mechanic to solve this issue. Of course you can increase the amount of time you can use the battery with car maintenance, but you need a lot of carefulness and attention. Once you do that adequately, it will be well worth it, so try to focus on the best results and you will enjoy it.
Your Car Battery will last for around 6 years, sometimes a bit more or less based on how you take care of it. As long as you do this properly, it will be well worth it, and that’s what you want to achieve. You need to realize that a car battery can require a lot of maintenance, especially if you store it outside. But if you do it right, nothing will be impossible. Just try to take that into consideration and you will be heavily impressed with the process and the entire experience.
At the end of the day, it’s realistic to expect your Car Battery to last at least 6 years. It might last less than that, but in the end you will appreciate the experience. We recommend you to give it a try for yourself and the outcome can be second to none every time. Rest assured that proper car maintenance can increase the Car Battery life, so that’s something to keep in mind.