A car that won't start is usually caused by various factors, with a dead car battery being one of the most common culprits. Especially in winter, the cold weather makes it impossible or very slow down the charging process, and many drivers have to park their cars at charging stations overnight because they are halfway to a dead battery. So why do car batteries die?
To begin, it's essential to clarify that a "dead" battery in terms of starting a car refers to its inability to start the car due to insufficient power, excluding cases of a defective battery. While battery failure can cause startup problems, there are several common reasons for car batteries to die suddenly or quickly.
The battery itself will slowly drain over time. Older batteries or batteries nearing the end of their useful life will also gradually deteriorate in performance and be unable to hold enough power to run the car engine. Additionally, car batteries typically last 3-5 years, but other influences such as bad weather conditions and poor driving habits could make the car batteries expired earlier than expected. Thankfully, this problem can be easily identified, and you can assess the voltage while the electrical system is under load to replicate real-world usage, like starting a vehicle. Alternatively, you can use a multimeter to evaluate the battery's performance and verify if the output voltage aligns with the labeled value. A healthy battery should have a voltage of 12.6 or higher.
Preventive suggestions: Check battery performance regularly, and replace old batteries that are approaching their expiration date.
Extreme cold slows down battery reactions, reducing output, while extreme heat speeds up internal reactions, accelerating aging and corrosion. These effects can be seen as complementary rather than contradictory, as cold primarily affects immediate power while heat impacts long-term degradation.
Electricity in a car battery is generated through a chemical reaction. When the ignition is turned on, the lead plates, liquid electrolytes, and chemical additives on the battery begin a chemical reaction, and then inert molecules begin to move around, sending a bunch of electrons jumping upward from the battery terminals and up the wires into the starter. This series of power formation and delivery performs best at 80 ℉, and it's safe to say that a fully charged battery can start a car engine at 80 ℉ (26.6 ℃) all day long.
But cold temperatures slow this delivery, and the battery's chemistry needs to be stronger to produce enough electrons to start the engine. Combined with the double whammy of cold weather, where the engine needs more current delivery to keep it running because the car's oil is stickier, car batteries often run out of juice on cold mornings. That's why professionals often use the Cold Cranking Amplifier (CCA) rating to measure optimal battery performance when it comes to car batteries. The same battery at 0 degrees Fahrenheit would need to produce a chemical reaction twice as strong as usual to generate the charge to start the same engine, and the battery's charge would be depleted at a faster rate.
Preventive suggestions: Keeping your car battery fully charged is one of the best ways to minimize the effects of the cold. When it's very cold, charge the battery ahead of time with a trickle charger or let the alternator charge the battery for a few extra hours on the drive.
The sensitive parts of a car battery that can handle normal temperatures just fine, up to about 80 ℉ (about 26.6 ℃). But when it gets hotter, like over 90 ℉, the chemicals inside that help your battery hold its charge start to get too active, which isn't great. It's like they're working too hard, and that can wear down the sensitive parts of your battery. So, while heat helps some things work better, it can also wear out your battery faster.
On the one hand, while the cold slows down the chemical reaction of the battery, the heat speeds up the chemical reaction, making it easy to produce the reaction needed to start the car. On the other hand, batteries that undergo intense chemical reactions are slowly eroding their ability to store power. Because the liquid electrolyte inside a car battery is a corrosive acid, as the chemistry reacts it surrounds the lead sheet and forms a coating over the lead plate, eating away at the lead and the coating every so often.
And the lead and coating of each ounce are the place for car battery to store energy, less lead area means it can store less power, and the capacity of the car battery slowly decreases. It may be that the adverse effects of extreme high temperatures on the battery are not obvious, which can still start a car when fully charged, but extreme heat accelerates the natural aging of car batteries.
Preventive suggestions: This is relatively easy to avoid by parking your car in the shade.
Leaving your car's lights on after turning off the engine can drain the battery significantly. This includes headlights, dome lights, trunk lights, and even glove box lights. While some newer models may automatically turn off lights when the engine is stopped, most older vehicles do not. If you forget to turn off all your interior and exterior lights before leaving your car, your car's battery will be slowly drained by powering these light fittings overnight. In addition, using the car's power to power other devices such as cell phones can also drain the battery. Car batteries are primarily designed to start the car, requiring about 20 minutes of comfortable charging from the alternator after each powerful 30-second burst of energy.
Preventive suggestions: Turn off all lights and accessories in the car after each stop and reduce the use of the vehicle's power to charge other devices.
Even after the car has been turned off, the battery continues to power low-current devices in the vehicle, including the alarm system, ports for charging electronic devices, the radio and sound system, and so on. These low-power devices typically don't have a significant impact on battery consumption under normal operation, as the alternator recharges the battery during subsequent drives. However, if there are short circuits, wiring issues, or stuck relays during the night, this can significantly impact battery consumption. If not addressed promptly, this parasitic drain can drain the battery. The most common signs of parasitic draw are: slow starting or frequent need to start the vehicle, dimmed headlights and dashboard lights, and the need to replace the battery frequently.
Preventive suggestions: remember to unplug or turn off extra accessories such as chargers, audio systems and other items after parking to avoid deep discharge and check the battery status regularly.
In addition to accessories draining the battery, it is possible that a loose connection between the battery and the alternator could cause the battery to fail to charge and gradually drain. It is inevitable to encounter some bumpy road conditions and constant vibration when driving, and some parts of the internal connection may be loose because of high vibration frequency.
Corrosion of the battery terminals is one of the phenomena of normal battery life loss. The gases released by the battery during operation will mix with the surrounding air, and the chemical reaction that occurs during the mixing will result in corrosion, which appears as a white, blue, or green powder that usually surrounds the battery terminals, binding posts, or cables. Excessive corrosion accumulation on or near the battery can lead to greater resistance in the circuitry, resulting in slower current flow or potential disruption of the battery's connection to the engine and alternator. This is detrimental for car batteries. And under high temperature conditions, it is easier to cause strong chemical reactions and cause more corrosion. So the risk of corrosion is highest in summer, special attention needs to be paid to cleaning up corrosive materials regularly.
Preventive suggestions: Regularly check for loose battery terminals and use baking soda and distilled water to remove any corrosion that has built up on them, then use an anti-corrosion spray on the clean terminals.
Once the car is started, the alternator is responsible for charging the battery with the engine running. If the alternator fails, it will not be able to provide current to charge the battery. The battery will have to rely on its own stored charge to power the vehicle's electrical components, and by the time it runs out of capacity, the car's battery will be suddenly dead or drained.
Preventive suggestions: Check and maintain the alternator regularly. If it is old or damaged, replace it promptly.
Your driving habits significantly impact your car battery's health. While driving for a long time can give the alternator enough time to charge, a vehicle parked for a long time may face battery issues at the same time. In such cases, occasional long trips may not be sufficient to offset the natural discharge during inactivity.
For vehicles parked for extended periods, using a battery charger periodically is recommended. This helps maintain the battery's charge level and prevents premature deterioration.
Preventive suggestions: Take proactive steps to ensure your battery remains in good condition, regardless of your driving frequency.
Overall, a car battery is a sensitive electrochemical device and will be affected by anything that damages the electrical and chemical systems. Dead batteries happen to everyone. What should we do when the engine refuses to roar because the car battery is dead? Don’t worry, there are corresponding countermeasures.
When the car battery is drained, you can choose to use jumper cables to borrow power from another car to start the car. The alternator will recharge the battery after starting successfully. However, this method relies on the assistance of another person and vehicle, and is less practical than using jump starters. And the jumper cable connection is unstable which may cause damage to the sensitive car battery if mishandle.
By using a portable jump starter (Independence booster pack), you can get enough juice to start your vehicle quickly. After successfully starting the vehicle, the alternator will automatically charge the nearly depleted battery. This is the simplest solution, and many portable starters come with USB ports, allowing you to use them to charge other electronic devices. This can effectively reduce the above-mentioned parasitic draw and allow the vehicle's battery to charge other devices.
For more on the benefits of portable jump starters, check out this article: WHY A PORTABLE JUMP STARTER IS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY CAR OWNER？
It is important to note that both of these methods are a temporary solution if used with a faulty vehicle alternator, risking the vehicle stalling again. While a quick start will get the vehicle running again, a bad alternator will not be able to charge your battery enough to sustain a long drive. It is recommended to schedule and contact a mechanic for alternator diagnosis and repair immediately after a quick start.
If you have a 12-volt power outlet at home or nearby and have enough time, you can also choose to use a battery charger to charge the car battery. When the battery has enough power to start the car, you can continue driving.
When dealing with a car battery that has died, battery chargers and portable starters are frequently compared because they are both capable of reviving a dead battery. So is recommended to check out this comparison article: PORTABLE JUMP STARTER VS. CAR BATTERY CHARGER: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE & WHICH ONE DO YOU NEED?
The five killers of batteries-cold, heat, power consumption, corrosion, and vibration often work together, making battery failure inevitable. However, by implementing the preventive measures outlined above, we can prolong the life of our car batteries. Even if your car won't start because of a dead battery you can use a jumper tool to deal with it. As long as you regularly maintain your car battery and keep jumper cables or a portable starter and battery charger in your car, you can confidently drive on the road in any condition.
A: Typically, the average lifespan of a car battery is between three and five years. Even under conditions of perfect car battery maintenance, batteries may fail if they continue to be used beyond five years. Many manufacturers recommend replacing batteries for five years.
A: The following are the early signs of a dead battery.
A: It may run briefly, but the battery will continue to drain, potentially leaving you stranded again. Yes, it's safe if done correctly, but it carries some risks, so precautions must be taken.
A: Yes, it is possible to use a car battery to start a generator that does not have an alternator. You can use an external power source, such as a battery, to provide the initial power for starting the car. The operation of starting the generator using the car battery is as follows: connect the positive terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the generator's starter motor, and the negative terminal of the battery to a suitable ground on the generator.
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