What are the Signs That You Have a Dead Battery in Your Car?
What are the Signs That You Have a Dead Battery in Your Car? If you have one, don’t fret It happens to the best of us. But with a few tools, you’ll be back on the road in no time. There are a few things you should do first before jumping into the process of fixing your dead car battery. Let us start with the basics!
The Signs of a Dead Car Battery
There are some tell-tale signs of a dead car battery, such as:
- No dome light in the car
- No interior lights
- No radio
- No exterior lights
- No power windows
- No power locks
- No power steering
- No power brakes
- No power door locks
- No power mirrors
Does the Engine Fail to Crank or Turn Over at All?
If the car cranks over slowly and the engine fails to start, you might have a dying or dead battery. On the other hand, it could be one of the other problems listed above.
Note that it isn’t uncommon to have a car battery die while the engine is running or while nothing is running at all.
Can You Hear the Engine Cranking?
If you’re able to hear the engine cranking, you might not need a new car battery. Chances are there’s still plenty of juice left. So, follow the troubleshooting steps below before buying a replacement.
Do You Hear Any Disturbances, Noises or Strange Sounds?
You might hear the sounds of electrical equipment running, or you might hear the sounds of burning wires. If you do, your car battery is failing.
You might hear an electric fan running, even when the engine is off. This is a clear sign of a dead car battery. It’s also a sign of a bad alternator, which can be dangerous. If you hear it, you should avoid driving your car.
What Else Could Be Causing a Dead Car Battery?
Sometimes, you’ll see the warning lights on your dashboard light up, even when the battery is fully charged. In this case, you’ll need to check for these common car problems:
- A loose or corroded battery cable connection
- A bad alternator
- A bad starter
- A shorted out or corroded wiring harness
- A shorted-out or defective ignition switch
- A bad ignition switch relay
- A bad fuse or relay
- A bad fuse box
- A bad ground
A dead or dying battery isn’t the only thing that will kill your car battery. Always check for any of the above problems before you replace your battery.
So, what is really happening here? The biggest issue is the battery cables have become corroded or loose. This can happen for a couple of reasons.
In some cases, your battery is old and tired and doesn’t hold a charge as well as it used to. Or perhaps you aren’t getting a good connection when connecting the cables to the battery terminals. You can easily test this by measuring the battery voltage with a multimeter.
Time for a Replacement?
Sometimes, you’ll have to replace your car battery. Other times, you won’t. Knowing the difference is important—this will save you time and money. Though it’s a straightforward project, it’s always good to do your homework and try a few troubleshooting steps first.
Batteries Sunshine Coast offers car battery replacement 24/7. We can accommodate all types of vehicles. Contact us!