Why has my car battery suddenly gone flat?
There are a number of reasons why car batteries die. Not starting a car for long periods of time (e.g., while it’s in storage) Lack of battery maintenance (e.g., not keeping terminals clean) Failure of the diode bridge or voltage regulator in the alternator; the alternator charges the battery when the car is running.
Can a car battery fail without warning?
Proper Maintenance Will Keep You on the Road. Often, a car battery will die without any warning, leaving you stranded. When you check the date of your battery, also clean off any white corrosion around the terminals. If you buy a new battery, they will also recycle your old one for free.
What causes a car battery to not start?
Most auto parts stores will test a battery for free to see if it has enough voltage and cold-cranking amps to start the engine. If the battery passes the test, then it isn’t being sufficiently recharged. That could be caused by corrosion on the battery terminals, or a loose or faulty cable.
What does it mean when your car won’t start?
Let us walk you through the car’s main reasons won’t start, but the battery is good. Even if you think that the battery is good, probably by seeing the lights working or the radio functioning, it doesn’t indicate a good battery. Therefore, the first thing you need to confirm and check is the battery.
What causes a car battery to go flat after 5 years?
If the engine struggles to start before the battery is 5 years old, it probably means: 1 The battery isn’t getting enough charge. 2 The car’s doing too many short journeys, or 3 There’s a vehicle fault draining the battery or affecting charging.
What to do if your car won’t start after a jump start?
One of the fastest ways to confirm it’s not your battery causing the issue is using a jump start. If your battery shows a charge after a jump start, then the problem is not related to the battery, and you need to move on and keep reading to detect the culprit.