Some Common Reasons Why Your Car Battery May Fail

1. Human Error

Most of us have made this mistake. You’ve just arrived home from work, are totally worn out and just disembark from your car and head straight to the house. You leave your headlights and cabin lights on. Overnight your battery drains and in the morning your engine won’t start. This is a common problem with older models, since most of the new cars will alert you incase you leave the lights on.

3. Faulty Charging

If there’s a malfunction in your battery charging system, your battery can drain even as you drive. More so if you power many devices with your battery. The alternator may also have worn out tensioners or loose belts that may prevent it from operating normally.

4. Corroded or Loose Battery Cables

Your battery cannot receive adequate charge if the battery connections have been corroded. They should be cleaned regularly and checked for any signs of corrosion. Loose battery cables can also make it difficult to start your engine since they cannot transfer electric current efficiently.

5. Extreme Temperatures

High temperatures may improve the performance of your battery, but prolonged exposure to high temperatures will shorten your battery’s life. Low temperatures on the other hand will slow your battery down. This is why your battery becomes sluggish during winter. At lower temperatures your battery’s ability to supply sufficient power may also be diminished.

6. Defective Alternator

Your vehicle’s alternator recharges your battery and powers key electrical systems such as power windows, air conditioning, radio and lights. If your alternator has a faulty diode it can cause the circuit to charge even when the engine has been turned off. In case this happens you may end up with a car that won’t start.

7. Too Many Short Drives

Your car battery can wear abnormally if you take too many short drives. The battery releases a lot of power when you’re starting your car. Turning off your engine before the alternator gets a chance to recharge explains why you may always have a weak battery.

8. Old Battery

If you have an old battery it may not hold full charge. If your car persistently has starting problems it’s possible that your battery is too old and worn out. In case you have an old battery, you can get one within no time at AAMCO Colorado.