Batteries Lasted a Week Then Truck Died Again

Wrench Wench has been in beloved with automotive mechanics for decades. She loves sharing advice with fellow DIY mechs and curious cats.

Learn the signs that your car battery is dead or dying. — Acquire the signs that your car bombardment is dead or dying.

The typical battery, in vehicles made in 1952 and afterwards, is a "wet-cell" battery—a plastic cube containing sulfuric acid and atomic number 82, with 2 terminals coming out of the height or the side. This short guide should be reliable unless yous take an aftermarket battery with special needs, such equally a dry-cell battery, or a hybrid like a Prius.

In my years as a mechanic, one thing I have learned is that an old battery or loose bombardment cables tin cause really big problems that brand it appear that something complicated is incorrect with your vehicle. Even experienced mechanics and DIYers are sometimes stumped by a simple problem with a bombardment by its prime number until they realize they've ruled out all other potential bug (and then some). That's i of those "d'oh!" moments when y'all realize you could have saved yourself an 60 minutes of diagnostic and repair time just past checking the bombardment and its cables.

Your vehicle'due south battery is like its middle: Without it, your vehicle doesn't have the power to start, move, or practice anything else. And then it's important to understand at to the lowest degree a lilliputian scrap nearly your bombardment and to know the most common signs that it needs to exist replaced.

Signs Your Motorcar Battery's Dead or About to Die

Your engine cranks, but it doesn't get-go.
Your engine doesn't crank or start, and the lights don't come up on!
1 twenty-four hour period information technology starts fine, then the next day information technology won't start at all.
Cold cranking is hard work.
You've jumped it a lot already.

Each of these scenarios volition be thoroughly discussed below.

1. Engine Cranks, merely Doesn't Offset

If your engine cranks or turns over when yous turn the primal, but it won't start, I say the most likely culprit is your battery. It might be your starter, it might be something else, just 94% of the time, information technology'south really your battery, even if the car is cranking adequately vigorously. Even if an ammeter (current-measuring device) says the bombardment is good, it can nevertheless be a few volts shy of what your vehicle needs to run efficiently.

When you find yourself with a car that won't creepo difficult enough to start, you'll desire to use jumper cables or a jump-starter box to get it running once more.

In one case your automobile is running once again, disconnect the cable, so let your engine run for thirty minutes so that your alternator tin can charge up your battery once more.

Afterward that half-hour, when you are stopped at home or in a safe identify, do a piffling test. Later on yous plow the engine off, await at least a minute, then showtime it once again. Await some other minute and showtime information technology another time or 2 to make certain that you won't be stranded at the gas station or wherever you go adjacent.

Notation: At this point, near batteries volition accept charged themselves up from the running of the alternator and be fine for a day or two. Do not take that time for granted. Use it to hunt down a new battery and replace the erstwhile one before y'all end up stuck in the middle of nowhere.

2. No Creepo, No Start, No Lights

This situation is pretty straightforward to diagnose, and it'south an fifty-fifty stronger indication that your battery is at error. Your battery powers all the accessories and lights in your car, particularly when the alternator is non running. So, if your car just seems to exist completely void of all signs of life, then your battery is the first thing you lot should be looking at.

And be aware that in this situation, where your vehicle doesn't even have the juice to work the lights or turn over the engine, information technology could be a combination problem involving your alternator besides.

If the car won't crank or start but the headlights practise work, that may indicate a more interesting problem, maybe the starter or a mechanical problem in the engine.

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three. One Day Information technology Starts Fine, the Next Twenty-four hours It Won't

If starting is an intermittent trouble for you, it'due south a sign that either your battery terminals are loose, broken, corroded, or calcified or that you have a parasitic draw (your power is beingness tuckered past some gizmo that'south on when information technology's supposed to be off, or past some wire that'south touching something information technology shouldn't).

Bank check out the battery cables first, as they are usually the prime suspect and are easier to check yourself.
Make sure the cables fit firmly and deeply on the battery posts. There should be zero play in them. You shouldn't exist able to jerk them even an inch when they are tight. Too, make sure that the cables going to the terminals are not frayed or falling apart; if they are, supervene upon them as before long as possible.

In this video, Eric the Car Guy shows you loose and corroded cables, and how they can cause a drib in power to the starter.

Parasitic draws from sources other than the battery cables are adequately mutual. Suspect a parasitic describe if the automobile starts correct up if you drive it several days in a row, but and so fails to start if you permit it sit for a day. To investigate parasitic draw issues, come across your favorite mechanic, or wait at the last section of this article, and go gear up to have fun with an ammeter or voltmeter, as these are the tools you'll need to check your alternator, accessory lights, fuses, radio, alarm, and all other components that might be draining your battery in secret.

4. Cold Cranking Is Hard Work

If you wait at your battery, somewhere on it y'all should find a label stating a number for "Cold Cranking Amps." Those amps are responsible for giving your engine enough energy to get started the starting time time of the 24-hour interval, generally referred to as "cold cranking."

Thus it'southward not surprising that an early on sign that your battery is running out of life—a sign most people miss—is that you are regularly putting actress energy into starting the vehicle. You know what I'm talking about. You lot get in your car, you tap the gas pedal, you plough the fundamental a few times, and all you get for the first few minutes is lots of weak rotations of the engine. Subsequently y'all've all but decided the automobile is going to make you tardily for piece of work, it suddenly starts upwardly and sustains an idle.

Now, what I mean by "regularly" is having to exercise this more than 3 times per calendar week. That would be a sign that your battery is giving notice and getting ready to retire.

But, proceed in heed that if it's really cold out, information technology's fairly normal for your vehicle to hang back and showtime but with difficulty. Not only is gas difficult to vaporize and oil gooey when it's cold, merely batteries put out only one-half their normal ability when the temperature is 0˚F (and only a third of their ability when information technology's 32˚F). So in the cold, you may have to be patient. But, if your car doesn't become back to a reliable "cold" crank when the weather condition warms upwardly, you'll want to get a new battery within the next three months.

One more than possibility worth noting is that your battery was never big plenty for your vehicle in the commencement place. Fifty-fifty a well-seasoned mechanic has gotten the wrong battery for a specific vehicle, causing a wild-goose-hunt investigation of a mysterious starting problem. Make certain yous look upwards your machine online or ask in an auto parts store to find out what level of Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and voltage your auto needs to first and run properly.

Learn the most common mistakes people make with their car batteries. — Learn the most common mistakes people make with their motorcar batteries.

v. You've Jumped It a Lot Already

I have a simple hard-and-fast dominion that I follow when it comes to having to spring your battery. No thing what reason y'all had to do information technology—the battery was onetime, or maybe the starter, fuel pump, or alternator were bad, or possibly y'all left your headlights on or your door ajar all night, or you ran out of gas—the rule is this:

Even a adequately new bombardment tin turn into a dud really quickly if information technology has been jumped more than than three times in a week. Using a jump box or jumper cables is hard on your battery. They work past figuratively "shocking" information technology back to life.

Now, you might think I'grand crazy about replacing the battery after such a low bound count, but hear me out. One of the most common things I see happening in relation to vehicle battery problems is that the driver or mechanic volition presume that because the battery wasn't onetime, or wasn't the specific culprit for the bombardment draining itself, they don't need to expend time or coin getting a new one. Then, when they try this and that to diagnose the problem, they keep jumping the battery until, finally, the alternator and starter go bad, leaving you lot with a need for a new alternator, starter, and battery.

Save yourself the headache and just supervene upon the battery if you've had to jump it more than three times in a calendar week. Yous won't regret it.

Signs of a Dying Battery

This is not a complete list of all possible signs and symptoms of a dying battery, though they are the nigh common, peculiarly when seen together.
Pre-Startup	During Startup	While Driving
No lights, guages, nuance lights or electrical come up on upon turning the key in any direction.	Turns over 3 times or more before starting.	Mildly rough Idle during traffic stops.
Battery needs to be jumped every 3–5 days or more than.	Lights andor Accessories dim with each plough over before starting.	Radio andor other accessories shut off intermittently.
Battery dies within 15–xxx mins of sitting with engine off & radio/accessories running.	Tougher time starting afterwards sitting for long periods, especially in colder atmospheric condition.	Accessories belt squeals while driving up hills or while hauling.
Starter andor Alternator accept died & been replaced already.	Accessories chugalug squeals briefly during or afterwards startup.	Lights andor Accessories dim or blink when accelerator is pressed.

How to Jump-Start Your Car Bombardment in 10 Easy Steps

Park a auto with a performance battery so its forepart is equally close to your car's front (pointing toward ane another). Leave at least 18 inches of space betwixt and never permit the cars touch.
For manual transmissions, identify the car in neutral. For automatic transmissions, identify car in park. Turn off engines, remove keys, and set the parking restriction on each car.
Get out your jumper cables. Brand certain none of the metal clamps touch 1 another. Detect that each fix of clamps has ane carmine clamp and one black clamp.
Open both auto hoods. Locate the batteries and battery terminals. Terminals are usually covered in ruddy or black, with a + or – sign on elevation. Brand certain that y'all tin can place which is positive and which is negative.
Attach the red cablevision clamp to the positive (+) battery terminal of the dead battery. Brand certain at that place is a solid connexion to concluding.
Adjacent, attach the other red cable clench to the functioning vehicle'southward positive (+) battery terminal.
At present, connect the black cable clamp to the working battery's negative (-) bombardment terminal.
Do not connect the final black cable clamp to the dead bombardment. Instead, attach that clamp to an unpainted, metal part of the car, such equally a clean nut on the engine cake. This will help ensure a safe leap.
Beginning the performance auto'south engine. Look a minute or two and try starting the car with the dead battery. Sometimes it helps to rev the performance motorcar's engine a bit. Once both cars are started, exit them running for a few minutes.
To disconnect the jumper cables, start with the blackness cable clamps. Exercise not let them touch while any function of the cables is still attached to a car.

How Long Does a Battery Terminal?

Batteries normally accept a maximum life expectancy of two or three years, even if manufacturers say they will last five years or more. If anyone sells you a "super long life" model, go on your receipt and go a warranty. Especially if you use your battery for a lot of accessories (things other than starting your motorcar) information technology's unlikely to last as long as promised.
Optimally, you should supplant your battery every ii and a one-half years or so—before you have bug.
Other things can affect its lifespan, since a battery relies on other parts to exercise what it does. It needs help from your alternator, your starter, the solenoid, the battery terminals (which demand to exist make clean and gratis from corrosion), and its own cables (which need to be intact). Though as I debate below, the problem is very often merely age, I'll acknowledge information technology can be something else.
The age of a battery, even if it doesn't show whatever obvious signs of beingness onetime, can touch on your vehicle in negative ways that volition slowly add together up to a big repair pecker. That's why I recommend replacing it before you have problems with it.
Your ordinary battery doesn't do so well in extremely cold atmospheric condition, which may be why you have to pump the gas, or turn the key dorsum to prime number the fuel pump, or do a little dance to go the truck or auto started on chilly mornings.

Time to get out your tools! — Fourth dimension to get out your tools!

It's DIY Fourth dimension!

How to Diagnose a Parasitic Draw

Because so many battery issues are caused by a parasitic depict that is slowly draining information technology expressionless, I thought you might like to see some videos that tin aid you lot finally kill that parasite!

Method 1: Use a Multimeter

As in the videos below, the fastest and most efficient way of finding your parasitic depict is to utilize a multimeter. Fifty-fifty the most inexperienced diagnostician can do this test in minutes to find out if you have a draw. Only make sure the vehicle is off, the auto'southward negative battery terminal is disconnected, and the motorcar doors are shut and other accessories turned off. Set your multimeter to 10 amps DC, bear upon the positive atomic number 82 to your asunder negative battery cable, and bear on the ground lead to your negative bombardment post. If your meter shows annihilation above 50 milliamps, you have a parasitic draw. Lookout the kickoff video below to find out how to identify the fuse or relay that is eating away your battery, plus some possible quick fixes.

Method 2: Use a Fuse Checker

On a pre-1985 vehicle, y'all can use a small probe chosen a fuse checker to look for draws. Information technology'due south non as accurate equally a multimeter, but will work only as well at finding out what is still on when your machine is supposed to exist off. This method can also piece of work on newer vehicles if you don't accept access to a multimeter. To use this method, merely brand sure that the automobile is off, the door pins are all held down in the "closed" position, and your negative battery cablevision is asunder.

Best Car Batteries


Proper name	Description	Average Price
Odyssey PC680 Bombardment	This battery is famous for its excellent efficiency. With a strong and rugged construction, this battery has a the ability to tolerate a strong pounding regardless of the environment.	$200
XS Power D6500 Battery	This battery features a sealed AGM. It is ideal for 3000-4000W car sound sound systems. It is a leak-proof battery with no external vents. This design allows the battery to fit almost manufacturing plant battery locations without any chancy leaks.	$300
VMAX857 AGM Battery	With this bombardment, you can experience fantabulous functions like heavy duty grids, SLA, and AGM technology, vibration and shock resistant. The VMAX857 is also a not-spillable and non-hazardous battery.	$150
Optima 34/78 RedTop	The RedTop battery is designed to deliver the near energetic 5-second starting burst of all. Its lifespan is twice that of conventional lead-acid batteries.	$200
Optima D35 YellowTop Battery	This is a small motorcar battery with excellent performance. This battery is designed to provide deep-cycling adequacy and extra operation to meet your vehicle needs (if your car has a lot of actress accessories).	$230

How Many Miles Should a Auto Battery Last?

A battery lasts well-nigh four years on boilerplate, but mileage varies wildly from commuter to driver. I matter is for certain, batteries don't last forever. There are many different factors that could lead to the demise of your automobile battery. It'south not always such a simple thing to diagnose.

Factors That Determine a Automobile Battery's Lifespan:

Where you live
How yous drive
The condition of your charging system
Atmospheric condition
How you use your car'south accessories

When Should I Replace My Machine Battery?

After three years, it's usually time to install a replacement battery. On average, after four or five years, most car batteries volition be almost completely unreliable. In fact, many one-time car batteries can nowadays a number of safety bug.

What Is the Normal Charge for a Car Battery?

Fully batteries should measure at 12.6 volts or above. However, when the engine is running, this accuse should measure out at 13.7 to 14.vii volts. That said, if you don't have a multimeter to tell you the voltage of your car's battery, then yous tin can do a test of your electric system. You do this by starting the car and turning on the headlights.

What Percent Should a Car Battery Be at?

Car batteries can vary from car to car, depending on the calibration of the automobile. That said, on boilerplate, automotive lead-acid batteries should be maintained at a 75% charge level or higher for their best functioning.

Does Draining a Machine Bombardment Impairment Information technology?

When a car battery has been drained below a state of total belch, all y'all can practice is cheque the electrolyte and put it on a trickle charger. Information technology'southward as well hard on an alternator when you drain a battery, considering they aren't designed to charge batteries from a land of total discharge.

I Accept a New Battery That Is Fully Charged. Why Tin't I Start My Car?

If your vehicle won't starting time, it'south ordinarily because of a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator, or due to an consequence with the starter. It tin exist hard to determine if you lot're dealing with a battery or an alternator trouble.

How Exercise You Know If It's the Alternator or the Bombardment?

The answer to this question varies from state of affairs to situation, only I'll accost a common 1 hither. If you jump start it and your engine starts running, simply the car volition not start once more once y'all turn it off, then the battery is probable the problem. While, in this instance, the alternator is doing its job of keeping the battery going once information technology has been jumped, the battery still can't hold a charge when the alternator is shut off. Again, this is a sign that the battery is the culprit.

Where Can I Bring My Old Motorcar Bombardment?

Battery Recycling is very important. If y'all take an old car battery lying around, bring it in to AutoZone or other shop for recycling. Some of these auto shops will give y'all a $v merchandise card for turning in your old battery. Call back to check the stores' sites for restrictions and further details.

What Do I Practise With My Quondam Car Battery?

Y'all should take the battery to an machine shop or parts store. In fact, the most common way to recycle a auto battery is to take it to your local machine shop or machine parts store, where car batteries are sold. You lot must recycle your bombardment appropriately. Motorcar batteries, both atomic number 82-acid batteries and nickel-metallic hydride (NiMH) batteries, somewhen wear down and need replacing. Even so, getting rid of an onetime automobile battery once you become a new one isn't equally simple equally merely throwing the old one abroad in the trash. Because of the ecology health consequences, throwing a car battery in a dumpster could subject y'all to serious fines or penalties.

How to Recycle a Car Battery

Finding recycling location. Use an online search engine to find locations well-nigh you that accept machine batteries for recycling.
Ostend that they accept automobile batteries. Telephone call ahead to confirm they have car batteries before bringing it in.
Secure the bombardment in your vehicle. Identify the battery in your vehicle's trunk, hatch, or on the flooring on a safe, disposable item (just in case of any leakage)
—use a department of plywood, a heavy plastic lid, or a metallic item like a garbage can chapeau. Make sure the item you choose doesn't slide around. You'll want to prevent the heavy battery from dissentious your car or other items around it.
Bank check in with attendant. After arriving at the bombardment recycling depot, check in with the attendant on duty. Make sure to inform them that you wish to dispose of a car bombardment.
Have your battery recycled. Have the attendant safely remove the old motorcar battery from the back of your vehicle.

Learn Equally You lot Go

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Batteries Lasted a Week Then Truck Died Again

Source: https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/Whats-Wrong-With-My-Car-Five-Signs-Youre-Battery-Is-Dead