It is not that every car battery can work forever. Many of them have a long battery life, while some others do not. So, what cause of dead car battery?
The fact shows many possible factors that can kill your vehicle’s electronic provider.
Besides, several drivers could consider a bad alternator as an element ruining the battery. And human errors are also not an exception sometimes.
Knowing about the problems can help protect and maintain the devices for a long period of time.
For a better understanding, let’s look into a detailed explanation of why won’t your car battery hold a charge.
What Cause Of Dead Car Battery?
What are two things that would cause the battery to go dead? Well, there are not only two things. Cold weather, bad battery age, corrosion, human error, and electronic parasites are all possible reasons.
Due to its ill electricity-providing system, your vehicle refuses to run when you start sometimes.
Cold Weather
We should not ignore the colder weather as the top reason for car battery death after sitting 5 days. For days, the harsh cold temperatures could weaken your car battery for sure.
For more detail, the bad battery would be 35% and 60% weaker at 32 degrees C and 0 degrees C, respectively.
The battery works by an electrochemical reaction. But this one tends to slow down under cold conditions, so it weakens the battery.
It is impossible to change the extreme weather. Hence, the best solution is to park the vehicle in the carport or garage.
Battery Age
Another top killer is the battery age. An old device can never work as well as the new one.
The average lifespan of a typical car battery often ranges from three to five years. That said, this period could get shortened by the cold weather.
Battery Corrosion
Why is it always essential to know how to clean corroded battery cables? It is because corrosion also can kill your car battery.
For years, the battery acid can result in corrosion (especially at the points of connection around the battery). The process of corroding by battery acid, then, causes the battery to become weaker.
Human Error
Human error – what does it mean?
For instance, in a hurry, you may not remember to turn off the car’s headlights. If these lights stay on for several hours, what will happen? The battery would drain and die soon.
Electronic Parasites
Unlike other causes, the parasitic drain is not predictable. One of the most typical examples of the parasitic drain is the bad alternator that the battery always relies on.
If this part pulls the weight, the battery can die even in nice weather.
Can You Recharge A Dead Battery?
Besides discussing what causes a car battery to suddenly go dead, there is always another big question. Can you recharge dead car battery? And the answer is YES (but it is not true for all cases).
The device tends to get fully discharged when it comes to a dead car battery. At the same time, the battery voltage stands below the level of 12V.
And you cannot start the vehicle after turning it off. As a solution, we suggest jump-starting and driving the vehicle so that the alternator can replenish the charge.
Another way is to attach that dead battery to the battery charger. For example, the voltage reaches under 12.2 only. In this case, you need to prepare a trickle charger to avoid overheating.
The best idea for anyone without mechanical experience is to call services for help, and, of course, you will need to pay some fees.
How To Prevent A Car Battery From Dying?
During the time like the Covid-19 lockdown, even a new car battery died after a month. It is not a strange issue at all when numerous factors can kill your device.
What can drain a car battery when the car is off? We have already had the answer above. Now, it is time for methods of prevention.
Using A Battery Conditioner/Trickle Charger
A trickle charger or a battery conditioner is one of the best solutions to preserve your car battery.
Let’s say you plan not to use it for a long period of time. These devices can prevent elements such as dash cams and immobilizers, which can drain the battery.
Not Turning The Vehicle On, Then Off Again
Some drivers may misunderstand this move. This repetition does not help power up the engine. By contrast, it could harm your vehicle for sure.
Avoiding Short Drives
What can drain a car battery when it’s off? Sometimes, it could be the way you run the vehicle.
Besides turning the car on/off continuously, taking short drives is also a common cause. It tends to deplete the battery (especially the weak one). So, you should avoid it as much as possible.
Driving For 15 Minutes (At Least) At A Time
Instead of short drives, running your vehicle for at least 15 to 20 minutes at a time would be better. This amount is enough for you to top up the battery charge.
If You Have More Than One Car, Alternate Trips
When there is more than one car in your household, why don’t you switch them for each other? This tip helps ensure that the cars’ batteries won’t be left out for too long and discharge themselves.
Checking Plugin Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Manuals
This advice is not suitable for all automobile manufacturers. That said, you can apply it to most cars.
To put it simply, we suggest putting the plugin hybrid and electric vehicles in the ready mode every few weeks. It helps charge the car battery.
Ensuring A New Battery To Meet The Car’s Specifications
For any battery replacement due to car battery dead symptoms, it is important to ensure that the new device can meet your vehicle’s specifications.
The automobile will not get enough power to restart unless you equip it with a compatible battery. The unmatched options tend to prevent the engine from getting fully recharged.
Unplugging Unnecessary Accessories
No one wants the new car battery dead after 2 weeks, especially in lockdown.
Thus, unplugging unnecessary accessories when not used is a good idea. For instance, the dash cams can cause the battery to drain after weeks if you leave them on.
Final Thought
So now, you already know what cause of dead car battery. Regardless of the reasons, regular proper maintenance is always the key. It helps protect a “healthy electronic providing system” for your vehicle.
Also, you will not have to waste time and money fixing problems. For any further inquiries about battery issues, feel free to drop us a line.
Stay tuned and wait for our upcoming helpful topics.