Signs Of Bad Car Battery

Starting Problems How To Tell If Its The Battery Or Alternator

5 Symptoms Of A Bad Car Battery

If your vehicle wont start, its usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator or an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if youre dealing with a battery or an alternator problem. Heres how to know which one is the culprit.

Bad Battery Symptoms

If the cranking of the engine is sluggish, like your vehicle is harder to start on cold mornings, it starts inconsistently, or theres no sound and interior lights when you try to start, suspect a failing battery, a loose or corroded connection or electrical draw. A low battery that has visible corrosion on the terminals is probably damaged.

If jumpstarting works, then you know youve got a battery problem. But you also need to figure out whether its simply at the end of its life or there are underlying issues. A dead or low battery can be caused by a failing alternator. It can also result from additional draw from auxiliary lights, fuses, sound systems, alarms and such.

Signs of a Bad Alternator

Some of the things to look for are no-starting and trouble starting, dimming lights and problems with stereo system output. If your car starts but stalls when youre underway, your battery is probably not being recharged due to a faulty alternator. A squealing sound coming from the engine that gets louder when drains like the heater or sound system are on may be your alternator bearings.

What the Battery & Alternator Do

If Your Car Wont Start

Symptoms Of A Bad Car Battery

The most common symptoms of a bad car battery are dim or flashing headlights, trouble starting the car, or other electrical problems with your car. You may also notice a rotten egg smell when you drive your car or a warped battery case if you inspect the battery.

Here is a more detailed list of the signs of a bad car battery to look for:

Is It Time For A New Phone Or Just A New Battery

If keeping your phone warm and activating battery-saving mode isnt giving you the battery life you need, it might be time to consider a change.

Cell phone batteries are rated for 500 charge cycles, which means they can typically last 2-3 years on average. Depending on use, that can shift anywhere from 1 Â½ to 5 years of battery life before your phone battery dies.

At The Lab, weve seen people pay hundreds of dollars to replace their iPhone or Android device when they could have paid much less for a new battery and kept their device instead.

If youre concerned that your phones battery is dying, dont jump the gun and replace your entire phone. Bring it to our experts at The Lab and we can replace your old battery with a new one at a fraction of the cost of a new device.

We can also take a look at your phone and let you know if the cold weather is to blame and your phone might just need a warm-up!

We know what its like to panic when your phones battery wont hold a charge and your nearly-new device isnt working the way it should. Let us put your mind at ease and help you avoid the cost of a new iPhone or Android device this winter.

The Lab is located in the heart of downtown Warsaw at 120 E. Center Street, Suite A. Were open until Monday-Friday and until 2pm on Saturday. We love walk-ins and are always here to help, so bring in your phone today!

Originally published in 2021, this blog post has been updated as of November 2022 to contain the most relevant information.

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How Can I Test My Car Battery At Home

Connect the positive and negative battery connections to the multimeter. You may have a faulty battery if the voltage isnt around 12.6 volts. Now start the vehicle and check for a voltage reading of more above 10. When the voltage dips below 5 while the automobile is operating, it is defective and should be replaced immediately.

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Your Battery’s Water Runs Low

On maintenance-type batteries with removable caps, you can check the electrolyte level.

If you often need to top off the water in one or more battery cells, the battery is leaking, or the charging system is overcharging your battery.

If a cell plate is sulfated, battery electrolyte can turn into hydrogen and oxygen gas during the charging process, leak through the case or bulge out.

Diagnostics suggested:

You can check the alternator and circuit using a digital multimeter. Go to the Resources box at the end of this post for more help. Check the Charging System Voltage Drop Test post. Note that a high voltage drop on the ground side of the circuit may cause the alternator to overcharge the battery.

If necessary, have the alternator and battery checked at your local auto parts store.

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Can I Drive With A Bad Battery

The short answer is yes, and you can drive your car with a bad battery IF the engine is already on. In other words, your vehicles battery is needed only to get your engine started once it starts, you should be able to drive just fine.

However, if you decided to stop anywhere, the battery will not have the required juice to get the vehicle started again. As a result, you must get a jump start to get your car going.

While you can drive a vehicle with a dead battery, it is never recommended to make it a habit. Not only because it can be very frustrating, but also because it can cause further significant problems to the electrical system.

Signs Your Car Battery Needs To Be Replaced

The battery is a critical part of starting and powering a vehicle. It provides the zap of electricity needed to put all the rest of the electrical components to work. However, like other kinds of batteries, they are not made to last forever, and will need to be replaced from time to time. The following are five signs that your car battery needs to be replaced.

You Hear Clicks When Trying To Start The Car

When you hear a series of clicks instead of the roaring of the engine coming to life, it’s usually an indication of an undercharged battery or too much resistance in the circuit between the battery and the starter motor.

Diagnostics suggested:

First, confirm that your battery charge is low by performing the Battery Open Voltage Test described in section A above.

Then, check that your battery terminals are clean and tight.

If your battery charge is low, recharge the battery and make sure the charging system is working properly. You’ll find help for this in the Resources box at the end of this post.

If necessary, test the starting circuit voltage drop as well. Check the Resources box.

Nothing Happens When You Turn The Ignition Key

6 Signs of a Dying Car Battery

If your engine doesn’t start and you hear nothing, not even a click, when turning the ignition key, either your battery has lost its charge, is not properly connected, or has reached the end of its service life.

A car battery lasts between four and six years. If you know your battery should still operate properly, follow the next recommendations.

Suggested diagnostics:

Make sure the battery terminals are clean, tight, and not damaged.
Do a battery open voltage testâgo to section A.
Have the battery tested at your local auto parts store.
Check for a parasitic draw.
Check the engine ground’s voltage drop.
Check the charging circuit’s voltage drop
Check the alternator.

The posts listed in the Resources box will help you diagnose the problem, if necessary.

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Starts Fine Today Wont Start Tomorrow

Sometimes it may take an even shorter interval for the car to refuse to start. It can start fine just this moment but refuse to start the next time around. This is one telltale indication that your car battery is failing, as it just wont hold a proper charge anymore. Typically speaking, a car battery in fine condition should manage to start even after sitting idle for over one week, and a quality one can start a car even one month later without being charged.

However, a bad battery can bleed charge so quickly that it will not provide enough juice to start a vehicle after an hour or two. Of course, this can also reveal as an issue in the form of corroded cables or a problematic charging system, but you should definitely get the battery checked by a mechanic

What Is The Cause Behind A Bad Alternator

There are a few factors at play that contribute to an accelerated rate of alternator failure. You have a chance of preventing it if you are aware of the reasons. The following are the primary causes:

An alternator belt that is overly tightened. The component could be held firmly, but the bearings of the electromagnetic system might be damaged as a result.
Over time, dirt, dust, and oil will accumulate. The presence of these particles prevents the alternating machine from functioning at its best potential. Living in a polluted location increases the likelihood that you may experience the issue frequently.

By doing routine maintenance on your car, you may eliminate the factors that might ultimately lead to a dead alternator. Check the drive belt tensioner to ensure that it does not remain in an excessively tight state. To keep the dust at bay, you should also make an effort to clean the car whenever you have the opportunity to do so.

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Difficulty Starting The Car

Your car requires a huge surge of energy to start the engine. With a failing battery, you’ll notice that the engine cranks more slowly than usual, and the car takes longer to start. You’ll often only get one or two warning signs of this nature before the battery completely dies, so don’t ignore it.If, when turning the key, you hear a clicking sound, there is not enough power to crank the engine at all. If this is the case you’ll need to jump start your battery andget a new battery fittedas soon as possible.

How Do I Know If My Alternator Is Charging

Signs Of Bad Car Battery Cables : Signs Your Car Battery is Dead ...

How to Determine Whether or Not Your Alternator Is Charging Your Battery Start your vehicle. The alternator is failing if the headlights are dim. After shutting off the automobile, double-check that the alternator and battery connections are secure. Start the engine once again. To test the alternator, use a multimeter or a voltage meter.

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Dashboard Lights & Lighting Issues

Keep an eye on your check engine light. If the warning lights on your dashboard are suddenly illuminated, do not ignore them. This often indicates that there is a problem with the battery or one of the vehicles computers. It could mean the alternator is no longer returning charge to it, or it could mean the battery has weakened and worn down. Either way, it is important to consult with a mechanic. Even if it is signaling a different issue, they can test the battery and make sure it is working at full capacity and output.

You may also notice dim headlights. If your battery is failing, it will not be able to fully power your cars electrical components to the extent that it normally can. If your headlights seem unusually dim and weak, especially when starting the engine, it may mean your battery is on the way out. Interior lights may also appear more dim than usual or might start to flicker when the car is idling or starting. Any unusual performance from your cars lights can be hazardous, so be sure to have your car checked out right away to maintain safe driving conditions.

Issues With Electrical Components

In addition to starting and powering the engine, the car battery also needs to produce enough juice to run all the various electronic components in your vehicle. In most modern cars, there are many electronic accessories including radio, windshield wipers, dashboard lights, power windows, power seats, headlights and more. All of these components require electricity supplied from your vehicles battery.

If any of your vehicles electronic components start to function poorly, first check for power loss due to dirty battery terminals. If the battery terminals clean, it might be time for a battery replacement. Pay special attention to when you use more than one component at a time. For example, if you switch on the radio while using the headlights and the headlights go dim, the battery might not be up to snuff anymore.

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Signs Of A Bad Battery

Check for these common symptoms of a dead battery:

Are the dashboard lights dim? First, check the dashboard battery gauge. The battery should be giving a charge, even while the vehicle is off. If the dashboard lights are dim, something is likely wrong with your battery. Try turning on your windshield wipers, lights or automatic windows. Then make sure these are all turned off and once again try to start the car.

Check for battery corrosion. If it still wont start, use a rag to carefully wipe away any corrosion on the battery and have someone jump-start it. After running the motor for a while, turn the car off. If you cant get it to restart, this is a sign the alternator is doing its job of keeping the battery working while the motor is running, but the battery isnt retaining the charge when the alternator has stopped.

The car battery could be old. As batteries age, they become less able to retain a charge because the metal inside corrodes. On average, car batteries last between 3 and 5 years. Eventually, the level of battery charge diminishes to the point where, no matter how much power the alternator gives to it, the battery cant hold enough power to start the car. However, there are steps you can take to help preserve your car battery life.

Whats The Best Way To Deal With A Weak Car Battery

Bad Battery Or Bad Alternator? – How To Tell The Difference

Realizing your car battery is dying can make you think about all the problems that come with it, but you dont have to worry too much.

Contacting a qualified mechanic can help you sort out almost any weak battery issue.

Luckily, you can just call a mobile mechanic like RepairSmith!

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You can fill out this form to get an accurate battery repair and service estimate.

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Belt Squeals During/after Startup Or While Driving

A weak car battery will cause the drive belt to squeal. How? Well, if your car battery is low after you start the engine, it will cause the alternator to take the brunt of the electrical load and go full charge, consequently causing the vehicles drive belt to squeal.

However, be warned when addressing this symptom, as belt slippage that produces the squealing noise is not exclusive to a flat car battery. If uncertain about the problem source, check that your drive belt is correctly installed and does not suffer the following issues:

How Do I Know If Its The Battery Or The Alternator

While both the battery and the alternator might have very similar signings when they get bad, there are simple checks you can do to confirm whether its the battery or the alternator.

For example, if you couldnt get your vehicle started. You can try and jump-start your vehicle if the vehicle started, then it’s your cars battery causing the problem. However, if you used the jump start and your car did not get going, then it is another electrical component causing the issue.

What Is The Car Battery And What Does It Do

There is a very common misconception that the vehicles battery is responsible for keeping all electrical systems going in your vehicle however, this is not the case. Your vehicle battery has several vital roles, including:

Storing chemicals

Your vehicles battery is the house for chemical materials needed to create the required amount of electrical energy.

Starts the ignition

The main role of your vehicles battery its to provide the required amount of electricity needed to trigger the vehicles starter.

Furthermore, the battery is responsible for keeping continuous vehicle sustainability in the electrical cycle.

Transfers current to the alternator

In addition to the previous roles, the battery also transports the initial amount of energy needed by the alternator to get started.

Receives system updates

Finally, your vehicles battery is updated frequently to regulate the required amount of energy needed to get for the next vehicle startup charge.

Signs Of A Bad Alternator

The other major issue that is common in vehicle that wont start is the alternator. Signs of a bad alternator include starting issues , stereo output issues and dimming lights. If you can start your car with a jump, but your car stalls out while you are driving, it is probable that the alternator is not functioning properly and the battery is not being charged.

Another sign to look out for is a squealing noise when you are using electronic components such as the heater or the radio. This symptom points to an issue with the alternator bearings.

If the car wont start but the headlights and other electrical components are working then the problem is likely the starter or a fuel issue.

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