One of the most frequently occurring problems that cause a vehicle to break down is a flat battery and it is likely to occur when it is least expected. Knowing the reasons why batteries fail in the first place can help you identify red flags early and take simple measures to prevent a situation where you find yourself in a hole.
Why Car Batteries Fail
Car batteries are constantly in use, even when the car’s engine is not running, to power alarms, clocks and electronics in the vehicle. This constant usage, along with environmental conditions and normal usage over the years, causes the battery’s performance to gradually deteriorate until it does not hold enough charge.
Age and Natural Wear
Battery Lifespan
Typically, car batteries have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years, depending on usage and climate. Even with the proper care and maintenance, batteries lose their ability to hold a charge with use and become more susceptible to failure over time. If you are approaching this age, it may be advisable to have your battery tested proactively.
Sulfation Buildup
Due to the natural sulfation of the plates over time, lead sulfate crystals can accumulate on the plates of a battery. This buildup decreases the battery’s ability to receive and store the charge, and it gets worse if a car sits unused for extended periods of time.
Extreme Temperatures
Heat Damage
Batteries tend to dry out faster, and the components to corrode in the internal chemistry at high temperatures, which increases the likelihood of a failure. In reality, batteries work significantly shorter lives in hot climates, and that is a challenge for them.
Cold Weather Struggles
Although cold weather is when batteries tend to fail, heat can cause long-term damage. Much like a car that its battery is too weak to start the ignition, a battery that has weakened due to age or heat may not have the power to begin the chemical reactions to start a car’s engine on a cold morning.
Electrical and Usage Issues
Parasitic Drain
A car can slowly leak a battery even when it’s turned off, caused by interior lights, chargers plugged in, or faulty electrical parts. The small, continuous drains are called parasitic drains and may cause a dead battery even when the battery is otherwise in good condition.
Frequent Short Trips
Short trips allow the battery to be partially discharged by the initial power requirement for the engine start, but generally do not provide sufficient time for the alternator to fully replenish the battery. Short daily driving may leave the battery undercharged, which will cause it to deteriorate faster.
Faulty Charging System
If the alternator fails, the battery will not charge sufficiently even during normal operation when driving the vehicle. Even if your battery is relatively new, but still keeps dying, it may be good to get your charging system checked, instead of thinking that the battery is the problem.
Physical and Maintenance factors include the following:Physical and Maintenance factors are as follows:
Corrosion on Terminals
Corrosion can cause a buildup that can disconnect the battery from your vehicle’s electrical system. This white or blue-coloured residue affects the ability of the car to start and it also hampers the current flow.
Loose or Damaged Connections
Regular driving can cause connections to loosen in battery cables over time. Even if the battery is fully charged, a loose connection may cause intermittent power problems or even prevent the battery from starting.
The best way to prevent battery failure is to follow these guidelines:
Regularly test your battery to make sure it is working properly.
The auto parts store will also test your battery for free which will help determine if your battery needs recharging or repair before it completely dies. This is particularly important before extreme weather seasons hits.
Keep Terminals Clean
Check and clean the battery contacts every so often to clear corrosion; use a solution of baking soda and water, and a wire brush. This is a basic maintenance that can help to keep a good electrical connection.
Drive around for long periods of time on occasion or restrict short trips.
If you drive primarily short distances, sometimes a longer drive is needed to get the alternator to fully charge the battery and keep it in good health.
Shut off electronics devices when not in use.Shut off electronics devices when not in use.
Remember to turn off headlights, interior lights and accessories before exiting your vehicle, particularly if you don’t have an automatic feature.
Final Thoughts
Failure of a battery is rarely a rapid occurrence and is typically caused by slow deterioration over time due to environmental factors, electrical problems or other small issues. With a little knowledge and awareness of these common causes and a few simple maintenance habits, you can prolong the life of your battery and prevent the last thing you want to experience at the end of a day is a dead battery.
