What Can Cause a Car Battery to Fail?

The battery in your vehicle has an important role to play. Of course, you need the battery to supply the power used to get the engine started each time you turn the key (or push the button, in newer models). Your battery is also going to power the accessories that you use in the cabin, such as the radio, navigation system, etc. While your vehicle may run on gas or diesel, you aren’t going to get far without a properly functioning battery.

Unfortunately, many drivers take their battery for granted. Sure, car batteries tend to be rather reliable, but that doesn’t mean they can be ignored in the maintenance cycle. At some point, the battery is going to surpass its useful life, and you’ll need to have it replaced. But what is it that causes car batteries to fail? Are there any warning signs you should watch for that indicate battery trouble is on the way? We are going to look at these questions in this article.

Of course, if you feel that there is a problem with the electrical system on your vehicle, you can stop by Taylor & Sons Chevrolet right away for assistance. Our team will be happy to get to the bottom of the issue, whether that means replacing the battery or completing other repairs. We hope to serve you soon!

Leaving Your Lights On

This is the classic way to drain your battery, so it needed to be first on our list. If you were to leave your lights on for an extended period of time while the vehicle is parked – say while you are at work, or overnight – there is a good chance that you will come back to a dead battery. Unfortunately, that means you’ll probably need a jumpstart to get going once again. On the plus side, once you run your vehicle long enough to recharge the battery, you should be able to continue using it without much of an issue (unless the battery was already quite old and needing to be replaced.

If you have a newer model vehicle, you may not need to worry much about this issue anymore. The cars and trucks which have hit the market in recent years often feature headlights that will turn off after a period of time once the vehicle has been turned off. Check your owner’s manual for specific information on how your vehicle works.

Failing to Start the Vehicle for an Extended Time

Some car owners are surprised to learn that they may come back to a dead battery after leaving the vehicle to sit parked for a long period of time. If, for instance, you left your car or truck parked for the duration of a cold Idaho winter, there is a good chance you’d find your battery dead when spring rolls around. The energy from the battery is slowly drained while the car sits parked and you don’t have enough juice to get the engine started when the time comes.

Not only is it frustrating to find that your battery is dead and you can’t get going right away, but you may also find that even a standard jumpstart won’t do the job. It may be necessary to actually charge the battery before you will be able to get your car started successfully. In addition, depending on the age of your battery, it may not come back to full strength even when charged. If you know that you are going to be leaving your vehicle parked for an extended period, consider disconnecting the battery to prevent it from draining down while the car sits unused.

Old Age

Quite simply, your car battery may fail for no other reason than it has been in use for too long and it no longer up to the task. Batteries do not last forever, so you should expect that you will need to replace yours periodically as you move forward with your vehicle. How long should you expect to get out of a battery before it needs to be replaced? That’s hard to say, as the lifespan of an auto battery will depend on a number of factors. The quality of the battery, the age of the vehicle, the local weather conditions, and more can all impact how long your battery lasts.
As your battery ages and nears the end of its useful life, you may start to notice signs of trouble. For instance, it may take a little longer than normal for the engine to fire up. Or, your check engine light may come on to warn you that the battery is getting low. Pay attention to anything that seems unusual and contact Taylor & Sons Chevrolet for assistance in diagnosing and solving the problem.

Speaking of contacting Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we would love to take a look at your vehicle and examine the current status of your battery. It should go without saying that replacing your battery is not something you want to do when you are stuck in a parking lot, unable to get started. Instead, you would rather have the battery replaced before it runs down completely, so you can keep up with your busy life. The team at Taylor & Sons will be glad to assess the current status of your battery, as well as the rest of your vehicle as a whole.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. It’s easy to forget about the important role that your battery plays in the overall performance of your vehicle, but don’t be one of the car owners who makes that mistake. At Taylor & Sons Chevrolet, we take great pride in offering excellent customer service, and our services as competitively priced as well. If you are in need of a new battery, you can trust our team to find the right model and install it properly in your vehicle. We look forward to your visit!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »