Having car mechanical problems is an unavoidable part of your driving journey.
The problem of a car battery won’t hold a charge can be seen as one of the most common malfunctions that you will come across while driving.
When you find out that your car battery no longer holds a charge, you will notice the bad performance of your car since the engine will stop working.
That’s why it is important to know the obvious signs and learn some tricks to overcome the difficulty.
The following article will provide detailed information for you to fix the mechanical error on time and enjoy an unforgettable driving time. Let’s get started!
Why Car Battery Won’t Hold A Charge?
There are a handful of reasons for the car battery not holding a charge, both from the battery itself and other mechanical factor
. It could be due to an old or depleted battery, corroded cables, a faulty alternator, a damaged fuse, or a malfunctioning charger.
The best advice when encountering this problem is to carefully inspect all the elements in your car that are relevant to the battery performance.
Once you find out the reason, you will know how to make a car battery hold a charge.
Old Car Battery
Like other types of batteries, the car battery has a limited lifespan and cannot hold a charge as it loses energy.
You can expect your car battery age will last up to six years if you know suitable maintenance tips to keep it in mint condition.
When the battery doesn’t hold a charge anymore, you had better replace a new one for the great performance of the battery and the engine.
Malfunction Of The Alternator
An alternator and a battery have a strong connection in terms of the car engine performance.
That’s why when your car battery doesn’t hold a charge, you should check the alternator to see if it is the reason for the malfunction of the battery.
The alternator cables help charge the battery when the car is running. If you jumpstart the battery and it cannot hold a charge for a long time, you will know the problem lies in the bad alternator.
Corroded Battery Cables
If you find the sign of corrosion on the battery and around cable connectors, it may cause the inability to hold a charge.
The formation of corrosion makes a thick barrier, preventing the battery from getting enough charge from the alternator.
Regular maintenance of the car battery is highly recommended to avoid corrosion. You can remove the corrosion on the battery with coke, a homemade solution, for a short period.
If the corrosion is hard to remove, seeking advice from a professional is a good idea.
Defective Fuse
Why won’t my car battery hold a charge? Sometimes, a defective or blown fuse can lead to different battery issues.
That’s why you need to consider this factor to inspect whether it affects the battery or not.
You can expect related problems with battery drains regarding the defective fuse panel, and replacing the fuse is a piece of cake. Still, it is crucial to diagnose the problem correctly before fixing it.
Parasitic Battery Drain
The parasitic drain of the battery comes from the problem that the power is drained from the battery even when the engine is off.
It can result from forgetting to turn off the car’s light, or a car component is plugged into a constant power.
The current drain will shorten the battery life day by day. In the long run, it will cause the car battery to no longer hold a charge and leave your car in a bad condition.
Problems Of The Charger
The battery charger itself can also become the factor behind the concern of what cause of dead car battery. The charger can get errors from the manufacturer or be affected by environmental factors.
You will know the problem coming from the charger after checking other parts. If everything is good, the charge is to blame for not holding a charge.
6 Signs You Need To Have Your Car Battery Replaced
Slow Starting Engine
The battery is responsible for empowering the starter to crank up the engine. That’s why you will hear the ticking sound when you turn the key, and the starting engine takes time to respond.
The dead car engine sometimes happens since it doesn’t get any power from the car battery. There’s no need to worry too much; you can get help from another car to jumpstart yours.
However, this is only a temporary way to deal with the slow starting engine. If you want to end this problem completely, the best choice is to purchase a new battery.
Lighting Issues
The car’s lighting system also suggests the condition of the battery health. It is easy to notice the change in the headlights or the engine light.
When headlights are dimmer than normal or don’t even turn on, the reason likely comes from the weak battery.
Also, when you notice the check engine light on, it might hint at the probability of a dead car battery.
If there is a combination of both lighting issues above, you need to replace your battery as soon as possible to avoid affecting the car’s performance.
Poor Performance
A bad car battery will lead to many electrical problems that affect the performance of your car.
The situation of the engine running but stopping working right after that is a common sign of a dead car battery.
The reason is that the battery doesn’t have enough charge for the engine to perform in a long drive.
Other electrical concerns include the radio, air-conditioner, or windows, which can be seen as negative signs of a bad battery.
Whenever you notice the poor performance of any mechanical part, check the battery to see if it needs to be replaced to maintain the good condition of the car.
Strange Smell
The leakage of battery acid also indicates a bad car battery. When the battery no longer works well, it will produce hydrogen sulfide gas and cause an irritating smell like rotten eggs.
If you only notice the leaking fluid, you can mistake battery acid for distilled water. That’s why the weird smell will help you tell the difference and have the most suitable solution on time.
Corrosion Problems
If you spot the sign of blue or green powder on the battery terminal, it can be corrosion from battery cables. If you ignore the corrosion and keep using the battery, it will sooner or later stop working.
Corroded battery connections or corroded terminals will prevent the battery from holding a charge since the thick layer of corrosion makes it difficult for the battery to reach the alternator.
Applying dielectric grease on battery terminals is an effective solution for you to try at home, bringing back clean terminals for better performance.
Frequent Jumps
One of the most reliable pointers of replacing the battery power is the need for frequent jumps. It means you have to jumpstart the car to get the engine working, which suggests bad battery conditions.
The more you jumpstart your car, the worse your car battery works. If it requires you to jumpstart many times a week, a battery replacement will save you from other severe problems with the car.
How To Revive A Dead Car Battery?
1. Make A Jumpstart
Can you recharge dead car battery? It is hard to say yes or no to this question since the answer will be based on the actual situation of the dead battery.
However, in most cases, when a car battery is dead, jumpstarting your car to keep it running temporarily is a dependable solution.
You will need jumper cables, a battery booster, or another vehicle to complete the work.
It would be best to consult with an auto care expert at an auto shop for proper steps, or you will risk damaging your car.
Yet, you can still jumpstart the car yourself, as long as you check the owner’s manual carefully and follow it step by step.
Under no circumstances should you try to jumpstart a frozen battery, as it can explode anytime and drastically damage you and your vehicle.
2. Apply Epsom Salt Solution
If you find the jumpstart solution difficult to carry out, how about opting for the solution of Epsom salt?
This is an ideal option for you to carry out at home since you can easily get the ingredients at the grocery store or the supermarket.
If car battery doesn’t hold charge, the problem of low electrolyte level can be the reason behind it.
A stronger acid with a great amount of hydrates like Epsom salt will help tip the chemical balance and get sufficient charge for the engine to start running.
All you need to do is dissolve the combination of Epsom salt and water with the proportion of ⅓.
Adding the solution to the battery cells of the battery terminal until you get the result that the plates are covered by ¼ to ½ will successfully solve the problem for you.
3. Apply Aspirin Solution
You will be taken by surprise when you find out that the application of aspirin can fix the mechanical problem of the car battery.
Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylic acid. That’s why when you use aspirin with water, it will become a great solution to make a chemical change in the battery electrolyte mix.
This solution will require you to crush and dissolve 12 aspirin tablets, either 350 mg or 500 mg is suitable, into 180 ml of warm water.
Finish the work by adding equal amounts to both positive terminal and negative terminal. An additional water level is important to help cover all the plates.
4. Use Distilled Water Method
Another useful way to deal with the low electrolyte level is to use distilled water as an electrolyte booster.
When distilled water has fully submerged the plates, it will help to create more chemical reactions of electrical energy for the engine to give some turns.
However, this is only an alternative solution when you don’t have aspirin or Epsom salt at home for immediate use.
It is highly recommended to choose the above three methods for better engine performance.
How To Charge A Car Battery?
Learning how to charge a car battery correctly will help increase the battery lifespan.
The first and foremost thing is to ensure the charger is off. Turning off the charger power will help reduce the risk to your safety.
The charging process is about getting the right cable to the terminal on the battery.
The positive cable will go with the positive battery terminal, and the negative cable will match the negative terminal side. After that, turn on the charger and wait for the process to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Long Can A Car Battery Hold Charge?
If you have a good-condition car battery, it will last at least two weeks without the need to start the engine for the battery charger process.
However, the actual charging capacity of the battery depends greatly on extreme temperatures, whether it is hot or cold weather.
It is highly recommended to start your car once a week to recharge the battery voltage, especially when you have no intention of driving it for a long time.
2. Can A Bad Alternator Destroy A New Battery?
The combination of an alternator and a battery is essential for the car to run smoothly. They are supposed to work together; therefore, if the alternator gets damaged, it will directly affect the battery.
An alternator plays an important role as a charging component for a battery. That’s why a faulty alternator can cause the malfunction of the battery, leading to other electrical problems in your car.
When the alternator fails, it will become overcharged and leave the car in the condition of a flat car battery.
It would be wise of you to check the alternator immediately to ensure the best battery performance of your car.
3. How To Clean Corroded Battery Cables?
When the problem of corrosion arises, it would be best to find a reliable solution to help clean the battery cable connectors. Baking soda is an effective way for anyone to DIY.
With this solution, you will need to prepare baking soda, a toothbrush, a soft towel, and warm water.
A suitable mixing proportion is essential for the success of the cleaning process, which should be a spoonful of baking soda with a cup of water.
After removing the battery cable, you need to use the toothbrush to scrub the cleaning solution on the terminals’ surface.
You will have clean battery cables after finishing the last step of rinsing the terminal with water and wiping it with a rag.
4. How Often Should I Replace My Car Battery?
There’s no specific answer to this question since the average battery lifespan varies between four to six years.
Based on the basic battery maintenance and extreme weather conditions of your living place, the battery life expectancy will differ from each car brand.
The frequency of your battery replacement will depend on some common signs of a dead car battery.
It is advisable to repair or replace the battery when you notice changes in the function of the battery and other special equipment.
5. Why Does The Battery Die Again After A Jumpstart?
There are many reasons for the recurrence of a dead car battery after a jumpstart. The main culprit is that you didn’t drive the car long enough for the battery to recharge fully.
It often takes time to let the battery recharge itself, so you must be patient and allow a few more drives for a better result.
Another problem may come from the vehicle engine, such as a faulty alternator or battery voltage regulator.
That’s when you should take your car to the repair shop for the correct diagnosis of your car malfunction.
Conclusion
After reading this article, we hope you have acquired detailed knowledge and learned useful tips to fix regarding why the car battery won’t hold a charge.
Several mechanical problems can lead to this issue, and it would be best to get ready to deal with it anytime.
It is normal to feel unconfident in solving this problem yourself.
However, enjoying your wonderful driving time will be much easier if you know some tricks to get things done.