5 Most Common Car Battery Faults
The optimal operation of your car’s battery aside, it’s good practice to ensure that every component is functioning to its potential. This means timely servicing and checking systems to safeguard against even the smallest fault creating a knock-on effect on the ultimate flow of performance.
A slow starting engine
Reliant on several factors, processes and even a chemical reaction to work efficiently, the first sign that your car’s battery is taking strain or, indeed, needs to be replaced is a slow crank of the engine it’s mated with.
Before rushing to replace it, however, consider whether the prevailing outside temperature might be impacting the overall performance of your car’s battery, as well as how generous you’ve been with the amount of time spent and distance covered to allow this item to achieve an optimal charge.
Outside influence
In a tech-focused modern world, it’s common practice to plug any number of auxiliary items into the centre console of your vehicle, from GPS units to mobile phones and even aftermarket alarm systems. Keep in mind that each new power-reliant device added taps into the available resources of your car’s battery. Take note not to leave anything connected that could still draw current while the car is parked.
Grime
Reliant on a secure, clean connection between the battery’s terminals and its corresponding positive and negative leads for optimal operation, make time to inspect the general condition of the surface area of your car’s battery. While a loose connection is a relatively simple fix, the sight of any damage, debris or, indeed, a white crystal-like substance is cause for concern. Your closest battery fitment centre will be able to assist you with getting things back to normal.
Addicted to jump starts
It’s conceivable that outside factors such as leaving an interior light on or, worst case, forgetting to switch your headlights off overnight, will leave your car’s battery in desperate need of an emergency jump-start. If you subsequently allow enough time and distance for it to once more gain an optimal recharge, additional frequent jump-starts shouldn’t be required. If you find yourself regularly seeking the assistance of a donor battery to bring your car back to life, it might be time to get a new replacement battery.
Voltage matters
Broadly maintenance free in terms of the outdated practice of having to monitor things like water levels, it’s nevertheless good practice to have the state of charge of your car’s battery checked on a regular basis. Using a basic multimeter connected to the battery terminals, a reading above 12.7V is optimal. Anything below this figure indicates a potential problem. Once again, a visit to your closest battery fitment centre will offer peace-of-mind in this department.
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