How does someone know whether a car battery is dead and needs to be replaced or just needs a jump start?
A majority of car owners have seen bad car days when they have put the key in the ignition just to find that the car is not starting. The first thought that comes to mind at that time is to identify the culprit, which probably is the battery or alternator in most instances.Here are a few tips to help you to verify whether the battery is dead or just needs a jump start:Checking The Car BatteryStart by checking the dashboard battery gauge to find out whether the battery is sending a charge even when the car is switched off. A dim, flickering light indicates that the battery power is being used up by something.Next, check the commonly used connections such as the windshield wipers, automatic window openers, and brake lights. Turn them off and then try to start the car again.In case it fails to start, wipe the corrosion from the battery with a rag. Try using a jump starter to get it started and run the motor for a while and then turn the car off. If it doesn't get restarted, this indicates that the alternator is working and keeping the battery operational while the motor is running. The problem is actually with the battery as it is unable to retain the charge without the alternator's aid.One thing to bear in mind while evaluating the battery's performance is the time it was installed. Typically, a car battery needs to be replaced every three to four years and if your battery has been installed before that, it might be having issues. With age, it loses its capacity to retain a charge due to the corrosion of the metal inside. This is the time when you have to think about buying a battery for your car. You can buy it from any nearest battery retailer/supplier or order it online from an online battery store.
How long should car battery last?
My car is a 2008 and I've been noticing that the battery only lasts about little more than a year. I do have a little sticker on the battery. I usually get them from Walmart if that helps explain the situation. Don't know if it's that or what. Is this battery life normal or is it just my car? I know it's older and may be wearing down some. Just seems strange to have to change it so soon.
New car battery already dead...?
It could be either but is most likely a lemon of a battery. There are a few rare cases where the charging system is in fault and will send too much amperage to the battery (or pull too much)...this will usually cause additional and noticeable symptoms. If it's a newer vehicle and this was occuring the check engine light would come on, there is a simple diagnositic circuit that detects amperage overflow on a charging system and triggers the check engine light. Keep in mind the "new" battery you bought is most likely not even close to new...it was probably produced months ago and has been sitting in a warehouse/retail shelf since. On average 1 out of 5 "new" (generic) batteries will not work or fail within a few short weeks. Have the battery checked to confirm and then replace it under warranty. Spring for a name brand battery if possible...the production standards and longevity are higher. Hope this helps!
Car Battery died 3 months after I bought it....why?
get the charging system checked out as it sounds like you have a bad alternator.
Will Walmart exchange a bad car battery without a receipt?
If it is an EverStart battery, which is pretty much a Walmart brand, then they will honor the warranty length which is stated on the battery itself.If you are returning it to the same store it was purchased at, and you can give them the date of when it was purchased, they can look up your receipt. Additionally the serial number may aid them in finding the purchase date.If it’s not a battery sold at Walmart, you have no receipt and they cannot determine how old it is, likely they will not exchange it.You can however apply the old battery, regardless of age, brand etc. towards the core charge (about $12) that comes with buying a battery. (Core charge deals with toxic waste disposal from the acid and lead core)
Can a dead car battery be completely recharged by just jump starting the car and driving around?
Yes, but it depends on what you mean by "dead." A car battery is a rechargeable battery. In common usage dead simply means discharged. Once the engine is running it drives an alternator that recharges the battery. There is probably some misunderstanding because people think of batteries like the ones in a flashlight or toy, which are usually not rechargeable, so must be replaced with fresh ones after they run down. The main reason for a battery in a car is to provide energy to the starter motor to start the engine. That takes a fair amount of energy, but since the battery is rechargeable, unless there's a problem with the wiring connections or with the charging system, it is quickly recharged once the engine starts. However, no rechargeable battery invented so far will last indefinitely. They are all based on a reversible electrochemical process, but there are other non-reversible chemical processes that will eventually degrade the battery's ability to take and hold a charge. With automotive lead-acid flooded cell batteries, the useful life is about 4-8 years, depending on the design and quality of materials and manufacture. When it will no longer hold enough charge to reliably start the engine, it's time to replace the battery. Lead-acid batteries deteriorate much faster when discharged due to a chemical process called sulfation, a non-reversible chemical reaction. Sulfation causes deposits on the battery's lead plates that increase internal resistance and interfere with the ability to take a charge. Sulfation happens much more quickly when the battery is discharged than when it is fully charged. That's why it's important to check your charging system if your battery seems to be pooping out. A weak or marginal charging system leads to battery sulfation and premature failure.
Honda Accord battery light on ?
On my honda accord battery light comes on while i am driving but it occurs for no reason it blinks every once in a while or might not come or blink at all. I changed the alternator less than a month ago but it still did not make any changes. The other day i had my light and air conditioner on and car died on me but after about an hour it started back up like nothing happened. Also when I disconnect the battery while car is on the engine cuts off.
How long does a battery run with engine turned off ?
How long the battery will last depends on too many things to give a definite answer. Some batteries can deliver more amps than others, some vehicles require more power to start, the age and level of charge of the battery as well as the air temperature would also affect it. If a battery is under a constant load, the voltage will slowly drop as the battery loses it's charge. If the load is removed and the battery allowed to sit for a while, that voltage will slowly come up a little which is why you were able to start your car a few hours later. If your car started up after it sat and everything was turned off after it was shut down, it SHOULD start again in the morning. If you want to be safe, I would start it up and take it for a drive for 15 minutes or so. Your vehicles charging system will charge the battery, but the engine generally needs to be going faster than just an idle, especially if you're using lights etc... Either way, it's not going to hurt it, you just may need to charge or jump it (make sure you do those right if you need to, as you can damage things if you don't do it right.)