If you're searching for “how to know if a car battery is dead,” look for the following signs:
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- Illuminating warning lights
- Engine not cranking
- Engine cranking slowly
- Engine dies immediately
- The dome light is not working
- Dim or flickering headlights
- Fluid leaks
- Battery box issues
- Battery age
- Battery corrosion
The vehicle's battery is one of the most critical components that you must always have healthy. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with jumpstarts every morning and whenever you want to start your vehicle.
The battery is not designed to last forever, and there will be a point when you must deal with the battery. This could be related to some external conditions but could also mean that the battery has reached the end of its lifetime.
Understanding what to look for when asking yourself “how to know if a car battery is dead” is critical because it'll save you a lot of time and effort looking for the potential culprits, and you'll focus your efforts on checking the relevant components.
This article highlights the ten most important signs indicating it is the battery. It also highlights some expected repair options, repair costs for your dead battery, and recommendations about choosing a new one.
How to know if a car battery is dead?
The following list provides you with the ten most important signs to look for whenever you're asking yourself how to know if a car battery is dead:
1- Illuminating warning lights
The first and most common thing you might notice is illuminating warning lights. Depending on your vehicle type, you'll see in the dashboard some indication that you have a battery-related problem. If that's the case, you have to check on the battery and have your mechanic perform an authority inspection to confirm and identify the faulty culprit related to your vehicle's battery.
2- Engine not cranking
In other situations, you might try turning the key in the ignition switch but realize that the engine is not cranking. In that case, it could be a potential symptom indicating that your better is due for replacement.
3- Engine cranking slowly
In other scenarios, you might notice that the engine might start cranking, but the cranking is very slow. If that's the case, your battery needs to be checked because the longer you wait, the harder it is to get your vehicle going and start it.
4- The engine dies immediately
Some people complain about vehicle problems because of a dead battery when the engine dies completely immediately. In other words, the engine might start for a few seconds but then die immediately. This indicates that the engine did not receive the required juice from the electrical supply to start.
5- Dome light not working
If you're planning to check whether the battery is dead, you might want to monitor the dome lights. Typically added battery will not make your dome lights work because once the vehicle is not started, every electrical component will rely on the battery to provide the electrical supply.
6- Dim or flickering headlights
In addition to the issues with your Dome lights, you might want to look at the headlights themselves. For example, if you feel that your front or rear headlights are not working properly or are dim or flickering, it might indicate a dead battery or a battery was not the right capacity.
7- Fluid leaks
In certain batteries, certain fluids must be at the right t quantity and quality. However, if the battery is about to die, you'll feel that these fluids are either leaking or not looking how they should. In that case, it will have to replace the battery.
8- Battery box issues
Sometimes detecting battery problems does not require more than a visual inspection. For example, you might want to look at the battery box and see for any potential weird shapes. If that's the case, it means that the battery is about to fail and has some internal components problems.
9- Battery age
If you can't determine any of the mentioned symptoms, one thing you could do is look for the battery age. Typically the battery is expected to last between three and five years, and if you exceed this time frame, it could be a strong potential that your battery needs to be replaced.
10- Battery corrosion
Finally, battery corrosion could quickly indicate your battery is about to die. In that case, you must look at the terminals and confirm no corrosion around them. Sometimes your mechanic might have the right tools and skills to clean all this corrosion and recharge your battery.
While all these symptoms are related to added battery, they might indicate additional problems. For example, when you have an issue with starting, it does not necessarily mean that the problem is better because it could be an issue with the alternator or other components.
One way to confirm with it is the battery, or anything else is by doing a jump start. The jumpstart will skip the battery, and we'll move forward to the other components. If your vehicle starts after the jump start, it's the battery; Still, if it does not, it could be a problem with another component or a combination of problems, including the battery.
What to do if your car's battery dies?
When your battery dies, you'll need to get it to work or use another alternative to start your vehicle. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in nowhere.
In general, when your battery dies, you need to 1st take a look at any potential loose connections. This might be the easiest and best option situation for you. If you confirm it's all about loose connections, try tightening them up.
However, if you confirm that the battery has some major issues and needs further attention, you might need a jump start. This means you must provide the required juice to your engine to get started while skipping the battery.
Depending on the type of jumpstart, you might be able to do the jumpstart yourself; still, in most scenarios, if you're only relying on a jump cable, you must have another vehicle with a working battery to get the required juice to get your vehicle started.
How to choose a replacement car battery?
If you confirm that you're better reached the end of its lifetime, this will be the perfect time to choose a new battery. Of course, buying a new battery shouldn't be a complicated job as long as you follow the recommendations of automotive experts. Below are some factors to consider when shopping for a new battery:
- Confirm the battery group size
- Understand the battery capacity and choose the proper one
- Choose the best cranking amperage
- Understand the best-by date when buying the battery
- Check if the sharp provides you with any warranty
How much does it cost to replace a car battery?
According to automotive experts, replacing the battery should cost between $69 and over $300. However, the general cost should be around $200. Remember that this is just a general estimate, and your battery cost replacement depends heavily on the vehicle type and condition.
The other thing to consider is that battery replacement costs also depend on the labor cost, meaning you'll have to pay more if you're going to a dealership versus a small independent shop.
How to extend the Lifespan of your car battery?
Since the battery is a critical element in your vehicle, you must learn some techniques to help you save on the battery and extend its Lifespan. Let's take a look below:
- Do not forget to turn off the interior and exterior car lights
- Prevent battery power drainage during freezing temperatures using a battery blanket
- Clean the battery corrosion whenever it builds up
- Check the battery fluid levels and confirm that they're at the optimum level
- Keep up with regular maintenance and replace the battery we needed
How to know if the car battery is dead? Final Thoughts
Your vehicle's battery is essential to get your vehicle started, whatever you want. However, the battery is not designed to last forever, and there will be a time when you must replace it. This article highlighted the ten most important symptoms indicating a dead battery and potentially indicating a need for replacing the battery or performing some repairs.
You must replace the battery with need bu,t if you feel that the vehicle has many other problems and repair costs are piling up, it could be a perfect situation for selling your vehicle; if so, we highly encourage you to call our team at 773-791-4363.
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