A working battery allows a car to start up.
Most of us, at some point, have felt that sinking feeling as you settle in behind the wheel, click your seatbelt into place, turn the key in the ignition and nothing happens. Often, a dead car battery is to blame. Many things can kill your battery. Understanding the reason behind your dead battery will help you avoid a repeat scenario.
Low Charge
When a car sits without being driven for a long time, the charge in the battery can slowly drain. It's the use-it-or-lose-it effect. This is the same reason why, when you start a dead battery using jumper cables, you need to immediately run the car. Shutting it off will result in a newly drained battery. If the reason behind your dead battery is simply a low charge, getting it started using jumper cables and giving it a good, hard drive may be all that's needed to resolve the problem.
Acid Stratification
Acid stratification occurs when the electrolytes on a stratified battery sink down to the bottom. As a result, the upper half of the battery cell is low on acid. Batteries can become stratified if they are kept at a charge below 80 percent, according to Battery University in a 2004 article by Isidor Buchman, founder and CEO of Cadex Electronics. Driving for short distances, while running other devices that suck up battery power, such as the windshield wipers or the heater, can contribute to stratification, which in turn promotes corrosion and reduces conductivity. This can be fixed by allowing the battery to rest for a few days, or shaking or tipping it.
Old Age
Like all batteries, car batteries too have a limited lifespan. A dead battery may simply have reached the end of its life. Usually, this happens between three and five years. Many factors, such as leaving the headlights on for a long time after the car has been shut off, can reduce a battery's lifespan. A battery that has died, as a result of old age, must be replaced. While it may be possible to recharge the battery using jumper cables, it will likely die again soon.
Poor Maintenance
Older batteries require that owners maintain proper water levels. Water in such batteries can evaporate, reducing conductivity. Another common maintenance issue is the break down of the diode bridge or voltage regulator in the alternator, according to the Car Buying Tips website. Making sure that there is no rust on or around the battery, and that all cables are in good shape and free of rot can ensure that your battery starts up every time.
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