Why does my good battery keep dying?
Some of the most common reasons for a car battery to die repeatedly include loose or corroded battery connections, persistent electrical drains, charging problems, constantly demanding more power than the alternator can provide, and even extreme weather.
Can a battery be fully charged and still be bad?
If the battery cannot reach higher than 10.5 volts when being charged, then the battery has a dead cell. If the battery is fully charged (according to the battery charger) but the voltage is 12.5 or less, the battery is sulfated. If your battery cannot even reach a full charge, consider it bad.
How will you know if the battery is fully charged or not?
A fully charged battery will typically display a voltmeter reading of about 12.6 to 12.8 volts. If your voltmeter is showing a voltage anywhere between 12.4 and 12.8, that means your battery is in good shape. Any voltage above 12.9 volts is a good indicator that your battery has excessive voltage.
Why do batteries come back to life if you let them rest?
In any battery, be it an alkaline battery found in a flashlight or a lead acid battery in a car, the same sort of thing can happen. Reaction products build up around the two poles of the battery and slow down the reaction. By letting the battery rest, you give the reaction products a chance to dissipate.
What does a fully charged car battery look like?
A fully charged battery will result in a reading between 1.265 and 1.299 of gravity across all cells. The lower the gravity reading, the lower the charge. A discrepancy of between 25 to 50 points between any two cell readings would indicate a ruined battery. Hydrometer results are a general indication of the state of health of your battery.
Is it normal to have parasitic drain on battery?
Some parasitic drain is normal – your battery delivers enough energy to keep things, like your clock, radio presets, and security alarm operational at all times. However, if there’s an electrical problem – such as faulty wiring, poor installation, and defective fuses – parasitic drain can exceed what’s normal and deplete the battery.
Why does my car battery discharge after charging?
It’s possible you have problems with the battery itself (see the “state of charge” table below). Charge the battery and repeat the test. If you get the same readings (and problems) after charging the battery, you may want to take the battery to a shop for a battery load test. This is one of the best ways to confirm battery condition.