A battery, just like any other gadget or device has a specific lifespan after which at some point it might fail. Imagine having a dead car battery in the middle of the night during winter it can be so frustrating right?
If a battery cannot give the power to crank up the engine and the voltage of the battery goes below 11.5 Volts then that battery can be termed dead
Many signs show a battery is dead or is almost dying. Some are universal while some vary depending on the chemical composition of the battery. Let us now dive into some of the common signs of a dead car battery.
Dimmed Headlights
When you have a good battery, you expect the headlights to give you a bright white beam of light while you are driving at night right? In the case of a dead battery, you will realize that the headlights will change color from white to yellow and they will be very dim.
For you to ascertain that your battery is the problem you need to have your engine switched off so that the alternator stops working. After that, you need to switch on the lights and monitor how dim they are and their color.
If you realize the headlights are dimmer and are giving you a yellowish light then you can confirm the battery has a problem and it is time to a battery replacement
Battery Light Illuminates In The Dashboard
There is always a battery light connected to the dashboard. When it illuminates, there is a sign that the battery has a problem. If you see that light, you need to check the battery connections whether they are tight enough.
If you confirm that the connections are tight and in position but the light still illuminates then that is an indication that your battery could be failing.
Problem with Electrical Systems
The battery provides power to the electrical systems when the engine is off. If you notice that the electrical systems are having issues to work on switch on when the engine is off it implies that they could not be getting enough power from the battery.
In some cases, the systems may get switched on at first then as time goes on, they die out. That is a clear sign that your battery is not providing the required amount of power to run the electrical gadgets.
Slow-Cranking of The Engine
Cold cranking Amp (CCA) refers to the ability of the battery to have the car engine started in cold weather. It ideally quantifies the amps a car battery can provide at 00F for a minimum of 30 seconds as it maintains the voltage of the battery above 7.2 Volts.
When dealing with a dying battery, you will notice that the engine cranking is slower, or in some cases, it might start and stop shortly even before the engine starts. When this is the case you can either have your battery recharged or do a battery replacement.
Check Engine Light Comes On
The ‘Check Engine’ light is a general light that alerts you in case there is a problem with your engine. It can also turn on if some components that should be powered on by the battery are not getting sufficient power to keep them working.
In this case, before you conclude that the battery is the problem, you may need to visit a mechanic and have an engine diagnosis done. It could be a dying battery or it could be a different problem.
Battery Age
Batteries undergo chemical reactions even when they are not in use. As the battery gets old it is bound to fail at some point. The average lifespan of a battery is 3-5 years depending on the usage and maintenance practices.
To be on the safer side you need to keep checking when last a battery was installed in your car so that you are aware as it approaches the end of its lifespan.
Frozen Battery
The lead acid batteries have sulfuric acid as a component of the electrolyte. The sulfuric acid is usually diluted with 65% water. When the battery is in cold temperatures, the water freezes and that makes the battery unable to start the car.
Physically Distorted Battery
A battery should be in good condition without any swellings. When you do a visual inspection and notice that there is a swelling in the battery casing then that is a red flag and you need to get ready for a replacement.
Inconsistency in Performance
When you have a battery that you cannot rely on because today it works and tomorrow it doesn’t then there is a problem. In some cases, you are forced to jump-start your car and after a few days, you are back at jump-starting again. If this scenario repeats itself more than three times then it is time to get ready for a battery replacement.
Corroded Battery
Lead-acid batteries are prone to corrosion when not handled correctly but in a case where you are dealing with a weak battery, you might be getting frequent corrosion at the battery terminals even after cleaning them.
What that means is that the battery is probably leaking out or it is the gases that are leaking out and corroding the terminals. When you compare lead-acid batteries and lead-calcium batteries you will find out that the lead-calcium batteries don’t tend to corrode as much as the lead-acid ones.
Leaking Battery
Leakages are very dangerous with batteries because when the battery leaks it means the acid levels will drop and the chemical reactions that the battery is supposed to undergo will be interfered with. Leakages might occur when there is a crack in the casing or there is damage to the battery.
Can You Prevent a Dead Car Battery?
Yes, when proper maintenance is done to the battery then its lifespan can be prolonged some of the basic maintenance procedures include:
Proper Battery Maintenance
Some of the simple procedures you can do to maintain your battery in good health include checking the electrolyte levels from time to time, and conducting specific tests like impedance tests, capacity tests, and specific gravity tests just to mention a few.
When you make it a routine to do this, then you will always be ahead and be capable of identifying and rectifying any problems in time.
Clean the Battery
Corrosion is not a good sign for your battery. Dirt and other particles may accumulate at the top of the battery and they greatly contribute to corrosion. You need to keep the top of your battery clean and you can do this by regularly wiping it with a piece of cloth.
Another danger of having dirt and particles on top of your battery is that at times when you open the caps of the cells, these particles might fall inside the cell and cause a short circuit which will destroy the environment in the battery if the dirt gets to react with the acid and form other unwanted compounds
Regulate Battery Temperature
To protect the battery from the weather extremities, insulation is advised. Batteries however work best in warm temperatures. Reactions inside the battery take place faster in hot environments than in cold environments.
In extremely cold temperatures, the battery electrolyte tends to freeze therefore destroying the battery. If the temperatures are too high the battery is likely also to be damaged.
Store Battery Fully Charged
Batteries should be stored in full charge capacity. When you store a batter when discharged for longer periods, the battery might suffer from sulfation. When sulfation occurs, sulfur compounds are formed.
These sulfur compounds will not dissociate upon recharging the battery. This in turn will reduce the capacity of the battery to store charge.
Monitor Your Driving Habits
For the car engine to start, high power is drawn from the battery to the starter motor. This means the voltage of the battery drops. For the battery to get recharged to its required voltage the alternator has to work for like 30 minutes.
If you drive for short distances and switch off the engine without giving the alternator time to fully recharge the battery, then you are weakening your battery.
Doing this continuously will eventually make the battery die. It’s advisable to make it a routine to leave the engine idle for at least 30 minutes to allow the battery to fully recharge
Get a Trickle Charger or a Battery Tender
What a battery tender or trickle charger does is to keep the battery topped up with charge and maintain it to full capacity or close to full capacity. The float charge compensates the battery for any charge that is lost as the battery self-discharges.
The float chargers are very ideal when batteries are to be stored for long.
Final Thoughts
The signs of a dying battery will help you in proper planning. Always be on the lookout for them; to prolong the life of your battery, you can always practice routine maintenance tasks.
With that in check, you will always be able to know when your battery is in good health and also be able to tell when you need replacements done.