Dead Car Battery Signs
Automobile Maintenance

5 Dead Car Battery Signs to Watch For

Dead car battery issues can pop up at the most inconvenient of times and sometimes when there is no auto repair nearby. It can cause you to miss important appointments or events. Sometimes, when your battery is old and has suffered a lot of discharging and charging, it may die permanently! 

Never fear! Save the headache and start reading what are the 5 dead car battery signs.

1. Slow Cranking When Starting

This is the most common symptom that your card is about to die. When turning the key, the engine cranking sound is a bit slow and will sometimes stop. This is because the battery is not able to provide enough power to the starter motor.

The starter motor needs a lot of power to turn the engine over. If the battery is running low or empty, it will have a hard time starting the engine.

2. Headlights and Interior Dimming

The battery usually takes and holds a charge when the engine is running. This is what it uses to power the lights on your car. 

When your car is idle, and you notice the interior or headlight is dimming, this means you will have a dead battery soon, and you have to replace it as soon as possible. Be ready to call the nearest and trusted auto repair

3. Unresponsive Accessories

When you get in your car, and you switch the key to turn on the electrical, you will see your panel light up, but other accessories like the radio or power window will not work. Also, when you kick to start the motor, nothing happens but a click sound.

This is a sign that your car battery doesn’t have enough power. It’s either you might have left something turned on like lights, and it discharged the battery, or the battery is already dying and needs to be replaced.

If possible, you can jump start a car and let it idle for a couple of minutes. Turn the engine off and start the car as normal. If the car starts again, then you are good to go. If not, then you need to have your car checked.

4. Check Engine Light

When you start the car and look at your dashboard panel, you notice the “Check Engine” is lit up. The check engine light will light up in different ways, in different car brands, because of different issues. It might be as simple as a loose fuel cap or catalytic converter issues. However, one of them is the battery not getting enough charge. 

5. Odd Smell

If you notice a strange smell or noise coming from your car, it could be a sign that your battery is dying. A dead battery will often give off a sulfuric or burning smell.

This is because a dying battery will show signs of leaking acid, which causes an odor similar to a rotten egg.

Importance of Knowing Dead Car Battery Signs

Don’t wait until your battery dies to find out if it needs to be replaced. By then, it may be too late. Be proactive and have it serviced regularly to avoid being stranded and save yourself from a lot of headaches. If your car is showing any of these dead car battery signs, it is important to take it to a qualified mechanic.

Batteries store a high voltage and can be dangerous if not serviced properly. A qualified mechanic will be able to safely service your battery.

Check out our other posts for more car safety and maintenance articles!