What Causes a Car Battery to go Bad?
If your battery is starting to fail, you may be experiencing problems, such as your vehicle won’t start, power the electrical accessories, or even move! You may be wondering just what causes a car battery to go bad? There are several reasons, such as:
- The battery terminals and cables may be loose, broken, corroded, or calcified,
- The fluid level in the terminals may be too low,
- An electrical current from an accessory or operating system is drawing power from the battery even when the car is turned off.
- Extremely hot or cold temperatures will weaken your battery if it is already starting to die.
- The automatic stop-start technology in newer cars places additional strain on your car battery.
- The powerful computers found in today’s cars are operating continuously, even when the vehicle is turned off, drawing energy from the battery at a slow, steady rate.
- The charging system, which includes the starter and alternator, maybe going bad.
Under normal driving conditions, car batteries can become worn down and inefficient between three to five years. It may be almost completely unreliable once it reaches the four-year mark. A weak battery can have a negative effect on all the components of the auto electrical system, such as headlights, power windows, radio, etc. Just like a cell phone battery becomes less efficient with every charge, so it is with your car battery. Every time you drive your car the alternator is recharging the battery, diminishing its efficiency.
Here are a few signs that it may be time for a car battery replacement:
- The engine cranks but doesn’t start.
- Nothing happens when you turn the key in the starter.
- Your vehicle may start randomly one day and not the next.
Remember: Add car battery maintenance to your maintenance checklist, along with changing the oil, air filter, tire rotation, and windshield wipers.
Need more information about what causes a car battery to go bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
If your battery is starting to fail, you may be experiencing problems, such as your vehicle won’t start, power the electrical accessories, or even move! You may be wondering just what causes a car battery to go bad? There are several reasons, such as:
- The battery terminals and cables may be loose, broken, corroded, or calcified,
- The fluid level in the terminals may be too low,
- An electrical current from an accessory or operating system is drawing power from the battery even when the car is turned off.
- Extremely hot or cold temperatures will weaken your battery if it is already starting to die.
- The automatic stop-start technology in newer cars places additional strain on your car battery.
- The powerful computers found in today’s cars are operating continuously, even when the vehicle is turned off, drawing energy from the battery at a slow, steady rate.
- The charging system, which includes the starter and alternator, maybe going bad.
Under normal driving conditions, car batteries can become worn down and inefficient between three to five years. It may be almost completely unreliable once it reaches the four-year mark. A weak battery can have a negative effect on all the components of the auto electrical system, such as headlights, power windows, radio, etc. Just like a cell phone battery becomes less efficient with every charge, so it is with your car battery. Every time you drive your car the alternator is recharging the battery, diminishing its efficiency.
Here are a few signs that it may be time for a car battery replacement:
- The engine cranks but doesn’t start.
- Nothing happens when you turn the key in the starter.
- Your vehicle may start randomly one day and not the next.
Remember: Add car battery maintenance to your maintenance checklist, along with changing the oil, air filter, tire rotation, and windshield wipers.
Need more information about what causes a car battery to go bad? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive for more information about a car battery replacement and to schedule an appointment. Since 1997, our auto shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.
