What causes a Car Battery to die?
2nd Nov 2022
What causes a Car battery to die?
Introduction
I've had my share of problems with dead batteries, so I know that it's a frustrating experience. We've all been there at some point, whether our car won't start after leaving the lights on or your lawnmower just won't turn over when you need to mow that grass. But what causes batteries to die? There are a number of possible culprits:
Sometimes it's simple, like leaving the lights on all night;
Could be the vehicles charging system, and you have an alternator problem;
Maybe the battery is good, but the vehicle still won't start. You could have an ignition problem. (for example, the starter).
The most common causes of a dead battery are leaving your lights on for too long, bad alternator or charging system, leaving an accessory on or a faulty computer.
Leaving your lights on too long can drain your battery. To avoid this, turn off all electrical devices when they're not being used, including clocks and radios that run on batteries. Also make sure that all interior lights are turned off when you leave your car overnight (or longer). We suggest turning off any electrical feature that doesn't help you start up again quickly after parking at home or work—such as heated seats and windows—so that there's less strain on the alternator during cold months when it's less able to maintain power levels in the vehicle's battery pack as well as keep up with normal demand from all other accessories such as headlights/tires/etcetera depending upon conditions like weather outside etcetera...
"I had my battery tested and it is good but my car still will not start?"
If your battery is tested and determined to be good, but your car still won't start, there are a few other things to consider.
- First, some battery testers can only test the voltage in the battery. If this is the case with your tester, then it may not have been able to properly assess the starting capacity of your battery. Find a tester that can test the Batteries Cold Cranking Amps (CCA's) and see if it's within 80% of the batteries rated CCA.
- It's also possible that your car has some sort of electrical problem that's preventing it from starting up without a fully functioning battery (such as an ignition switch issue).
Why won't my car start if it has a new battery?
When your car won't start, it's important to understand the possible reasons. Common reasons for a car not starting include:
- The starter is bad
- No power getting to the starter or ignition switch
- A broken or disconnected wire leading to the starter or ignition switch
If your battery is dead and there isn't another reason why your car doesn't start, try jump-starting it with another vehicle. If that doesn't work, take it to a mechanic who can test all of its electrical systems.
If my vehicle won't start and the battery was recently replaced, what else could be wrong with my car?
If your car won't start and the battery was recently replaced, there are several things that could be causing this problem.
- Bad alternator or charging system: If you’re driving and your headlights dim or go out, it could be a sign that the alternator isn’t working properly. A faulty alternator can cause electrical problems with other parts of your vehicle as well, such as shorting out fuses and draining batteries quickly when turned off. This is also an indication that you may need a new battery soon since many electronic devices run off of electricity stored in batteries rather than being constantly powered by an engine running all day long (like with gas-powered cars).
- Faulty computer: Many newer vehicles use computers to control certain aspects like power windows or door locks, so if something goes wrong with one part of your car's computer system then all kinds of things could happen—from not being able to open doors because they're locked electronically all the way up to getting stuck miles away from home because nothing works anymore!
- Bad starter: The starter turns over engine, and if your battery is testing good. YOu could have a starter issue that's causing the engine not to turn over.
Conclusion
Sometimes it's hard to figure out why your car battery died, but hopefully this article has helped you get started. Your local parts store, or mechanic can always help you run down the exact issue!