What are the Symptoms of a Bad Car Battery?
Are you worried about the condition of your car battery because of starting problems or dim lights? Understanding how a car battery works might help you in diagnosing the problem.
The typical battery is a “wet-cell” battery, a plastic cube containing sulfuric acid and lead, with two terminals on the top or side. It stores electrical power generated from the alternator while your car is running. It also sends electrical currents to the engine and other electrical components.
The first thing to do is to check the fluid level in your battery. If the fluid is low and has been for a while, this will prevent your battery from generating power or holding power. Then check the battery cables. If the cable connections are loose or corroded, the electrical current cannot travel from the battery to the other electrical components.
What are the symptoms of a bad car battery?
- Your engine cranks but doesn't start. If your engine cranks or turns over when you turn the key, but it won't start, the battery is probably the culprit. It could be the starter, but probably not. Even if an ammeter (a device that measures the voltage in the battery) says the battery is good, it can still be a few volts short to start your vehicle efficiently.
- There is no power at all to start the motor, and the lights don’t come on. This is a major sign that the battery is faulty. It could be a combination problem with the alternator not charging the battery.
- Intermittent starting problems. The engine may start one day, but not the next day. There are two issues to consider--the battery terminals are loose, broken, corroded, or calcified, or you have something drawing electrical power from the battery even when the key is out of the ignition.
If you are noticing any of the signs above, ask your auto mechanic if it’s time for a car battery replacement.
Do you know the symptoms of a bad car battery? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
Are you worried about the condition of your car battery because of starting problems or dim lights? Understanding how a car battery works might help you in diagnosing the problem.
The typical battery is a “wet-cell” battery, a plastic cube containing sulfuric acid and lead, with two terminals on the top or side. It stores electrical power generated from the alternator while your car is running. It also sends electrical currents to the engine and other electrical components.
The first thing to do is to check the fluid level in your battery. If the fluid is low and has been for a while, this will prevent your battery from generating power or holding power. Then check the battery cables. If the cable connections are loose or corroded, the electrical current cannot travel from the battery to the other electrical components.
What are the symptoms of a bad car battery?
- Your engine cranks but doesn't start. If your engine cranks or turns over when you turn the key, but it won't start, the battery is probably the culprit. It could be the starter, but probably not. Even if an ammeter (a device that measures the voltage in the battery) says the battery is good, it can still be a few volts short to start your vehicle efficiently.
- There is no power at all to start the motor, and the lights don’t come on. This is a major sign that the battery is faulty. It could be a combination problem with the alternator not charging the battery.
- Intermittent starting problems. The engine may start one day, but not the next day. There are two issues to consider--the battery terminals are loose, broken, corroded, or calcified, or you have something drawing electrical power from the battery even when the key is out of the ignition.
If you are noticing any of the signs above, ask your auto mechanic if it’s time for a car battery replacement.
Do you know the symptoms of a bad car battery? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
