What To Do When Car Battery Dies? Don't Panic!!! Read This First

Are you wondering what to do when car battery dies? Well, it’s easy to dismiss a dead vehicle battery as a weird event when it happens for the first time. Car batteries can fail for various reasons, and there’s always the risk that what went wrong won’t happen again. When your vehicle battery dies often, it’s a good bet that there’s an underlying issue to be addressed before you wind yourself stuck.

So you might be wondering what to do when a car battery dies? This post will address those questions and cover other vehicle battery FAQs, such as why a car battery expires and how to fix a dead car battery quickly.

How To Know That A Car Battery Is Dead?

If your automobile doesn’t start, the battery may have died. Most batteries ought to get renewed every three to five years, and if you do have an older battery, you may find that it doesn’t keep a charge as well as it previously did. Whether your battery runs flat unexpectedly, check if you left an inside light or the headlights on. Aside from old age, this is the most prevalent reason for a flat battery.

You’re worried that your battery might not be working correctly? Here are some of the most common reasons your car won’t start.

Why Won’t your car start?

• The first issue is having difficulty starting your automobile. You may notice that perhaps the engine cranks extra slowly than expected and takes a long time to start.
• Second, you may experience a loss of electrical power within the vehicle. The battery not only powers the motor, but it also powers your radio, electronic windows, and warmers. If these items stop working or don’t work the way they’re supposed to, it’s a warning that the battery will die.
• The door lights normally turn on when you open the car door. Similarly, a chime gets commonly heard when the key is inserted into the ignition. A dead automobile battery is a typical reason for failing to perform properly.
• Dimmer or flickering headlights and an engine that won’t start typically indicate a faulty battery. It occurs when the battery only has enough charge to operate the lights but not start the engine.
• If your headlights do not illuminate, you most probably have such a dead car battery.
• A swelled or bloated battery is an evident indicator of a damaged battery produced by hydrogen gas accumulation. When the alternator overcharges the car, the battery cannot discharge the fumes quickly enough.
• If your lead acid battery begins to leak. In that case, the fluid is most likely not distilled water but rather a battery acid. Don’t even think about it. The stench of rotten eggs is frequently associated with the leak caused by leaking hydrogen sulphide gas.
• The last and most visible indicator is a dashboard big warning sign that resembles a battery. It might result from a faulty alternator, a loose starting terminal, or broken wiring. If the light remains on while you’re driving, it most likely gets caused by your alternator belt, which is in charge of charging your car’s battery while you go.

Read our comprehensive guide on how to check a car battery here.

What To Do When Car Battery Dies?

So what to do when the car battery dies? Usually, a dead battery necessitates contacting a specialist. However, you can handle a dead battery independently with some know-how and the correct equipment.

Jump starting the car – How to jump-start a vehicle?

If you’re truly stuck and can’t seem to find a technician to jump your car, here are some steps you may use to get back on course. Remember to use considerable caution when doing the following processes since exposed to high voltages.

If the battery gets broken and leaks acid, do not attempt to jumpstart the automobile since you will put yourself at risk.

1. Park, the automobile with the dead battery parallel to another vehicle, then open the hoods of both cars.
2. Connect the positive terminal on the dead battery to one end of the red positive jump connection and the positive node on the live battery of the second car to the other end.
3. Repeat with the black cable, connecting each end towards the negative nodes.
4. Start the rescue vehicle’s engine and let it run for around 10 minutes. It will charge the other car’s dead battery.
5. Start the engine of the operating car and let it run for the next few mins. Then you can attempt to restart the dead vehicle, and it should begin. If it doesn’t, try again after letting the other car run for several minutes to charge the battery.
6. Once the vehicle with the dead battery is operational, remove the jumper cables. Begin with the black negative clamps, ensuring they don’t come into touch. The hoods of both cars should be closed.
7. If the dead automobile was successfully charged and is running, you can drive it to allow the battery to charge. It should ideally run for a minimum of 20 minutes.

How to prevent car battery from draining?

Prevention is better than wondering what to do when the car battery dies. The simplest thing to keep the car battery from expiring is to start it once a week and let it run for 5 to 10 minutes. You can even drive it around the block, which should generate just enough energy to charge the batteries and keep it going for another week or two. But, If you won’t be using the automobile for a long or won’t be able to replenish it regularly, it’s better to disconnect it completely. It, like any other car battery, will need to be charged. Charging the battery every 12 weeks is a good rule of thumb.

Final Thought

It should go without saying, but don’t keep any batteries running for a prolonged period whenever the car isn’t running. It is the simplest way to prevent your car battery from dying.

Remember that hiring a professional is the most straightforward approach to get your automobile going again.