Signs of a Dead Car Battery and What It Sounds Like
Your vehicle constantly converses with you, including when the battery is out of juice. Some indicators include no chime when you slide the key into the ignition, no response when you turn the ignition, and no response from your car accessories. On the other hand, it sounds like complete silence or some clicking sounds.
The importance of a battery to any vehicle cannot be understated. Whether this vital component is dead or missing, your car won’t start without it. If you’ve ignited your car repeatedly without getting any response, it’s likely because the battery lacks enough juice to power the engine.
There are several reasons your vehicle may fail to start, and a dead battery is one of them. We believe every car owner should know the signs of a dead car battery. Keep reading this blog post to discover the indicators that you’re out of battery juice. You’ll also find out what it sounds like, so don’t go anywhere!
What are the signs of a dead car battery?
The most apparent sign of a dead car battery is your vehicle’s refusal to come on. Regardless of how many times you turn the ignition, the engine will not respond. But again, some other conditions can affect an automobile’s ability to come alive, making it vital for responsible car owners to identify the signs of a dead car battery.
They include:
No response at ignition
Perhaps your frustration at a dead battery will begin when you turn the ignition and get no response. It’s one of the most telling signs, and after a few tries, most car owners look for other alternatives.
Let this be a pointer to look in the direction of your car battery.
The starter motor cranks slowly
It’ll crank slowly if there’s enough juice to power the starter motor. However, the electric currents will be insufficient to turn over the engine. But again, this can also be a sign of a faulty starter, so look to the next sign!
A stuttering engine
When the temperature drops significantly, humans aren’t the only ones affected. Your car battery feels the harsh weather, which might cause the juices within to freeze. It won’t kill your battery but may take some extra time to turn over the engine.
However, if the weather hasn’t changed much, you may be dealing with a dead battery if it stutters when you turn the ignition.
The engine starts and dies immediately
There may be just enough charge to turn over the engine in some cases. It dies immediately afterward because the currents aren’t sufficient to keep the engine idle.
Once the engine control module (ECM) detects this disparity, the engine receives a signal and immediately fails.
The chime doesn’t play
The battery eagerly greets you at the door when you slide the key in. The first sign is the light that comes on; if you don’t see this, prepare your mind for a dead battery.
Utter silence when you insert the key into the ignition solidifies your suspicion. Usually, a chime plays when the battery is responsive, so your inability to hear it means your battery needs a jumpstart or trickle charge.
The headlights indicate it too
Another telling sign is dim headlights. It’s a sign that the battery isn’t strong enough to power the entire automobile. Since the lighting system doesn’t consume as many electrical currents as the engine, a weak battery may power it.
Look out for this sign because it means you can prevent your battery from dying. However, if you don’t catch on soon enough, you can tell the battery is completely dead when the headlights refuse to come on.
The check engine light bugs you
It’s relatively common practice to ignore the check engine light, and this is a phenomenon that can cost you. It could indicate that something is wrong with the battery, often that it’s not charging correctly. Instead of waiting for the consequences of the bugging engine light, we advise you to act without delay.
A bloated battery
If your battery appears to be larger than its usual size, it could be because of an internal buildup of hydrogen gases. It’s caused by a fault with the alternator; when it overcharges, it becomes difficult to properly dissipate these gases, leading to an accumulation that can prevent the engine from being responsive.
You smell rotten eggs
The smell of rotten eggs can hit you suddenly when you aren’t in the kitchen or by the trash can. If you’re near your vehicle when you perceive this stench, look under the hood immediately.
A leak from your battery could be the cause. Any fluid you notice around the battery area shouldn’t contact your body because it could be battery acid. The smell would still be pungent at this point, caused by leaking hydrogen sulfide gas.
Corroded terminals
Car batteries get corroded too! When that happens, you’ll see a bluish-green powder near the terminals. Although it appears harmless, it can damage your battery, starting with depriving it of a full charge.
A buildup could seriously damage your battery, so clean the terminals now and then.
What does a dead battery sound like?
A dead battery sounds like silence because you’ll not hear the usual enthusiastic responses from your car. For instance, when you put the key in the ignition, the usual chiming sounds do not fill up the air.
You’ll also hear a clicking sign sometimes. It comes from the starter motor and indicates that there isn’t enough battery juice to turn over the engine.
Bottom line
You can tell when your battery is about to fail you because of the numerous indications it exhibits. There are visible signs alongside those that you can smell.
Since you’ve come this far, it’s safe to assume you already have ample knowledge to take charge of your car better, as every responsible automobile owner should. So, make informed decisions going further.
