Even after you’ve invested in the best car battery for your vehicle, there’s still a chance it will be dead at some point down the road. Buying a premium battery gives you more protection against this dreadful occurrence, but there are no guarantees. That’s because many aspects affect the life of your car battery. In this article, we will discuss what causes the car battery to die and early warning symptoms. We will also instruct you on how to test your battery to determine if it’s bad or if something else is the culprit to your automotive troubles.
A German car manufacturer found that half of the luxury vehicles returned under warranty did not have properly functioning batteries. So what causes these car batteries to fail prematurely? Let’s look at a few of the major culprits.
Short trips: If you only drive in your local town, you might not give your battery enough time to recharge. The more frequently you do this, the less life you can expect from the battery.
Extreme temperatures: During the heat of summer, your battery is subjected to a lot of stress. In addition, the freezing days of winter also help to shorten its life. If your battery is already dying, you want to replace it before winter. Otherwise, you could end up with a car that won’t start.
Once you replace your car battery, the lifespan will depend on how long it holds its charge. When it can no longer be recharged, you must replace it. In ideal conditions (driving long distances and avoiding extreme temperatures), batteries should last up to six years. With that said, it makes sense to test your battery after three years to ensure it is still working the way it should.
The best way to prevent having a dead car battery is to watch for the signs that it is failing.
When you notice signs of a failing automotive battery or you just want to check its status, you have several options.
Many of the auto parts stores provide free battery testing. You can head to Advance Auto or AutoZone if you don’t have a lot of mechanical knowledge and don’t feel comfortable performing your own testing. These locations also provide free battery installation when you purchase from them.
With your multimeter, you can check the battery voltage. Follow these steps.
The reading on your voltmeter will depend on whether the battery is being charged. Readings lower than 12.2 volts indicate that you should use a battery charger. If that doesn’t resolve the situation, you might have a dead battery.
If the alternator is currently charging the battery, you will see a reading around 14.5 volts.
A power probe works similar to the multimeter, except you don’t need to adjust any settings. Follow the same steps as above, without the need of setting the probe for any particular volt reading.
While the load test won’t be as sophisticated as the ones done by auto repair shops, you can still gauge the health of your car battery easily.
If the lights dim considerably when your engine is turning over, your battery has failed the load test. It should be strong enough to hold a charge for 15 minutes and start the car engine with ease.
You could purchase a low cost battery load tester, if you don’t want to perform the do-it-yourself method.
It’s not uncommon to test your battery, find out it’s good, but still have a car that won’t start. At least you’ve eliminated the battery from the equation, but what might be causing your trouble? After your test your battery, you can look at these possible issues.
If you haven’t changed the car battery in a few years, it’s time to test it. You don’t want to be late for work because of a dead car battery. Take it to the auto parts store or do it yourself if you feel inclined. The simple tests outlined above will offer the reassurance you require.
This post was last modified on July 19, 2022 4:47 pm
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