Your vehicle relies on a healthy car battery from commuting to work to dropping off the kids at school. So when it fails to turn over, you may think your only option is to call for a jump start.
However, there may be other problems than a bad battery. Other issues with your alternator or starter could be at play as well.
Check the Battery Voltage
Most vehicles rely on a 12-volt battery to start the engine. It also supplies power to the alternator as you drive, keeping everything from your radio to the automatic lights working. If your car begins sluggishly or you’re concerned about its battery life, checking the resting voltage with a multimeter is a quick and easy diagnostic.
Before you test your battery, make sure it’s completely charged. You can usually tell by looking at the battery that corrosion ruins its ability to hold a charge and could cause the reading on your multimeter to drop. A fully charged battery should read about 12.6 volts. It’s also important to learn how to jump a car.
To jump-start a car, first, connect the dead battery’s positive (+) terminal to the positive terminal of the good battery, then click the negative (-) terminal of the good battery to an unpainted metal surface on the car with the dead battery.
Start the vehicle with the good battery first, followed by the one with the dead battery, and once the quiet car is running, carefully disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order of connection.
Check the Battery Terminals
Using jumper cables without properly inspecting the battery terminals can cause sparking or arcing at connections, a fire hazard that destroys onboard electronics. Before connecting the wires, ensure both cars are turned off, and the battery is fully charged.
Also, if the battery has white powdery corrosion, clean it off and use a metal object like a bolt or nut to ground the negative cable on the dead car to a piece of bare metal on the chassis or engine (not to the positive cable’s clamp).
It can be easy to misplace battery terminal covers, so always remember to open each car’s hood and locate them. The positive terminal is typically identified with a red cap. You can also use a multimeter to measure the battery’s resting voltage; the display should read around 12.2 to 12.6 volts.
Check the Battery Cables
The battery cables transmit power from the battery to the rest of your vehicle’s electrical system. When the wires become corroded or loose, it can cause problems with your car’s drivability. This includes issues starting your engine and headlights that dim even when it is not dark outside.
Performing a visual inspection of your battery cables is an easy step that anyone can do. Just make sure you use the right tools and safety equipment. If you find that the battery cables are loose, retighten them. You can do this by grabbing each cable or wire and wiggling it. If it moves, it is open. Once you have reconnected the cables, tighten them firmly. If the problem persists, consider finding a reliable car battery replacement service in Evanston.
Check the Battery Connections
You rely on your car’s battery to provide the powerful electrical boost that starts your engine, whether driving to work or dropping the kids off at school. The battery also powers other electrical devices like the radio, power windows, and lights while you drive.
Verify that the battery can supply your car’s components with the necessary amount of electricity by looking at the connections on the terminals.
A visual inspection of the connection can help, but a multimeter is usually preferred. Ensure the cable connector and battery terminal are not corroded, loose or dirty. You may need to wiggle the connector to ensure it can fit tightly around the terminal post. If they can’t, you should tighten them.
Check the Battery Ground
In a car, the ground wire is a crucial link between the battery and other electrical components. If the ground is bad, it can cause problems – from audio system noise to the electric fuel pump overheating to the starter motor not starting. The ground is easy to check with a multimeter. Switch your multimeter to ohms mode and place one probe on the negative terminal and another on any metal point or connecting bolt close by, like the car’s frame.
If you’re experiencing repeated car battery failure, it’s time to get to the bottom of what’s happening. Rather than calling a tow truck or trying multiple times to turn the car on, follow these troubleshooting steps to determine what’s draining your battery.