You know by now that the battery is a very important component of your car. Without the battery, your car would not be able to run, the electrical parts would not function, and your engine would not be able to drive your vehicle. If you wonder why your battery is working well, but your car is completely dead, you need to look out for some signs of a dying car!
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Signs your car is completely dead
There are certain signs that your car is dead or in the process of dying. By realizing these signs, you can prevent your car from not being able to run and function as they should. There are certain symptoms, like your engine cranking but the inability to start, your engine doesn't crank, inconsistent starting and stopping, difficulty cold cranking, and repeated car jumping.
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Engine Cranks But Car Doesn't Start
If your engine cranks or turns over when you put the key in the ignition and turn the key, the most likely culprit is actually a dead battery. Although you have done the tests and determined the battery is not the culprit, most of the time, the battery is the cause of the issue if the engine cranks. However, there are some circumstances where the alternator could be the culprit. If you find yourself in this situation, you need to narrow down why your car is completely dead, but the battery is good.
To determine what is the cause of your car being completely dead, but the battery is good, you need to disconnect the cable from your engine and let the engine run for 30 minutes to see if the alternator can charge the battery and power the car.
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No Crank and No Lights
If your engine doesn't crank, you can’t start your car, and there are no lights or electric powered devices working, then your battery may or may not be at fault for the car completely dead, but the battery is good. As you know, the battery is in charge of powering all electrical accessories in your car if the alternator is not running.
However, if you realize that your car battery is working well, then the culprit could actually be a combination problem with the alternator. If the car does not crank or turn over, but the headlights turn on, this could be due to an alternator issue, mechanical problem, or engine deterioration. If this is the case, your battery might not be the reason behind your car completely dead, but the battery is good.
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Inconsistent Starting
If starting is a problem for you on a regular basis, this is a clear sign that your battery terminals are corroded, damaged, broken, or loose. If your connections are not secure and snug, then your power is being drained consistently by some gadget that is causing the quick decrease in power. If this is the case, it can cause your car completely dead, but the battery is good.
Check the battery cables first to see for any visible signs of damage. If they look okay and there is no sign of damage, then the problem is not the battery, and the starter could be the cause of the car completely dead, but the battery is good.
This slow-draw of electricity from your system is actually quite common and can drain your car battery if you let it sit for a few days. To investigate these “parasitic” draw of electric power in your vehicle, you need to bring your vehicle to a mechanic to have them use a diagnostic tool and voltmeter to see why your car is completely dead, but the battery is good.
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Difficulty Cold-Cranking
Cold-cranking functions to give your engine enough energy to get started for the first time after sitting or a long time. This is generally called “cold-cranking,” as it could be cold in the morning when you turn on your car and your engine itself is cold from sitting for so long.
A sign that your battery is the problem for your dead car is that you have to turn the key a few times in the ignition for it to work, you need to press on the gas pedal repeatedly, and it takes a lot longer to crank.
However, the reason could be that your battery is good, but the battery might not be big enough or provide enough power for your vehicle when it was installed. In this case, the mechanic who did the installation got the wrong size battery for your car, causing the car to be completely dead, but the battery is in a good situation.
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Frequent Car Jump Starting
If you always have your jumper cables out to start your car due to the inability to start on a consistent basis, this is a sure sign that something is wrong with your vehicle. In this case, you might have finally had enough when your car is completely dead but the battery is good – this indicates something is very wrong with the alternator, starter, fuel pump, or electrical components.
What is a car battery?
When it comes to your car’s functioning, the car battery is one of the most important components. The battery prevents your car from being completely dead if the battery is good. The battery is the power of your vehicle – without it, you wouldn’t be able to drive anywhere.
The car battery provides electricity to power the electrical components within your vehicle. Without the battery power from the car’s internal battery, no electrical component will work, leaving you without any dashboard lights, headlights, radio, and power windows.
The chemical reaction occurs in the battery system, transforming the chemical energy into electrical energy to deliver voltage to the starter. In addition, the battery stabilizes the voltage to keep your engine running consistently and constantly. Without the battery, the car would not have the energy required to start and maintain the power to run your vehicle.
When looking at why your car won’t start after a new battery is installed, it is important to keep in mind the varying functions that each component has in your vehicle.
Signs of Dying Car
Pre-Startup Issues
Some pre-startup issues that you need to keep an eye out for in your dying car are as follows. If you notice that there are no dashboard lights, no headlights, brake lights, turn signals, or electrical parts when you turn the key in any direction, this is a sign your car is completely dead, but the battery is good.
Another pre-start issue is that your battery needs to be jumped very frequently, either every 3-5 days or more frequently, if you have let the problem go on for too long.
In addition, the battery could die within 15-30 minutes of sitting, and the engine might turn off with the accessories running, draining the battery in your car and causing the car to die while the battery is good.
Lastly, the final pre-startup issue is that the starter or alternator has died and been replaced, causing the car to be completely dead, but the battery is good.
During Startup Issues
Some cars are completely dead, but the battery is good during startup because you have to turn your engine over more than three times while you are starting the vehicle. In addition, if your lights or accessories are more dimly lit than usual, this could be a sign that you need to start and rev your car more often than usual.
Furthermore, suppose you are experiencing a tough time starting your vehicle after sitting for a long period of time, like overnight in colder climates. In that case, this could lead to your car being completely dead, but the battery is good. Lastly, your vehicle’s final startup issue is that the accessories squeal and make noise during use.
While Driving Issues
When figuring out why your car is completely dead, but the battery is good, you need also to recognize the common issues and symptoms of a dying car while you're driving. The main symptoms include a rough engine idle, radio accessories shutting off during use, accessories squealing and belts making noise, and the lights blinking when you press on the gas pedal.
Conclusion
Now that you know the signs of a dying car, a car battery’s function, and the signs your car has officially died, you can prevent these issues from getting worse over time and from harming your car in the long run. By preventing your car from dying, you can keep your engine working at a high-performing level for longer and keep your passengers safe.
Knowing the main culprit behind why your car is completely dead but the battery is good can help you narrow down the root cause of the issue and prevent it from harming your car and causing expensive repairs and replacements!