3 Warning Signs Your Car’s Battery Is About To Fail
Whether electric or fuel-powered, all vehicles have a battery that they rely on to power parts of the car. The battery constantly works to provide electricity to the components of your car, such as the lights, stereo, and computing system. And because of this importance and power, it’s important to understand the signs of battery failure that’ll help you in the event that your battery comes close to dying.
Diminished Brightness
Your car’s lights rely on the power of the car’s battery and require a certain amount of voltage to function. Your headlights and taillights should have enough brightness to see at least 60 to 75 feet ahead of you for the safety of others and yourself. If you can’t see this far ahead or only a short distance, that may be a sign your car’s battery is about to fail.
A failing battery means less power goes to parts of your car, especially the lights. If the dashboard lights or headlights continue to dim, your battery will get weaker as the days go on and require a new battery or repairs.
A Constant Check Engine Light
Check engine lights may be finicky sometimes, but more often than not, they activate for a reason. There are numerous causes for the check engine light to turn on, and one of the most important is to indicate a failing battery.
Battery failure will cause other parts of the car to diminish in performance. This will trigger the check engine light and warn you that something is wrong. It won’t give you a direct sign that there’s something wrong with the battery. Still, you should take your vehicle into the shop when you see it. Even if your battery is fine, it could signal that something else needs attention. For example, it could be a sign that you need to replace your actuator.
Difficulty Starting the Car
The spark plugs receive voltage from the car’s battery to create a spark that ignites the fuel and causes the engine to start. If your vehicle seems to stall or takes longer to start, the problem may lie in the battery and its power.
The battery needs to have a consistent amount of voltage flowing from it to power your vehicle’s electronic parts. A sudden drop in this amount of voltage may have serious effects on specific components, such as the spark plug. If you want to ensure that your vehicle starts up, you may want to have the battery inspected to see if it’s on track for complete failure. It may alternatively require a recharge so that it has the necessary voltage to start your vehicle and keep the engine running.
A car’s battery is essential to function on the road. This integral technology may fail at some point, and it will greatly help you know the warning signs that a car’s battery is about to fail so that you’ll feel prepared and know what’s happening inside your vehicle.
