5 Causes of a Dead Car Battery
The life of your car’s battery affects its ability to function. If the battery goes bad, your car might only work with reduced performance, or may not even start. In fact, 52% of breakdowns in cars 6 years old or less are due to battery failure.
Several factors can lead to a dead battery, but you will be glad to know that most of them can be mitigated simply by monitoring how your car is used and maintained.
Driving Habits
If you only use your car for short distances in Singapore without taking it for an extended drive every week or two, your battery will not fully charge, and will eventually fail. Your battery’s power may also be drained by heavy use of electronic accessories, such as laptops, in your car. Also, the battery may die if your car has not been started for a long period of time, as it has not been charged.
Unnecessary Use
If your car is not running, but the lights, radio or air conditioning systems are on, your battery’s power will be drained quickly. Since your car is not operating, your battery cannot recharge and will eventually fail. This often occurs in Singapore when people drive home at night and forget to turn off their headlights, only to discover in the morning that their car battery is dead.
Improper Maintenance
Routine maintenance of your car battery is essential for it to function properly. Some of the maintenance you can do yourself include: cleaning the gunk on your battery with a solution of baking soda and distilled water, checking that the battery cable connections are tight, and coating the terminals with petroleum jelly or a commercial battery terminal protection spray to prevent corrosion.
If you have a serviceable battery, ensure to regularly check the fluid level and refill as necessary.
Manufacturing Defect
Less than 7% of battery malfunction or failure are caused by manufacturing defects. While not impossible, it is uncommon to experience a dead battery due to factory defects.
Old Age
Car batteries do not last forever, with the average battery lasting between 2-5 years. However, regular maintenance can help you to maximize the lifespan of your car battery.
When your car battery dies, you can jump start it using a portable jump starter to supply it with enough power to crank the engine and start the car. This is especially useful when your battery has run out due to the first 3 reasons. However, if there is a manufacturing defect, the problem will keep persisting even though jump starting your car will allow it to run in the short term. It is best to take your car in to your mechanic before it becomes totally unusable.
With proper care and maintenance, your car battery can last longer!
Here are 4 reasons you need a portable jump starter stashed in your car. In the event that you are caught in these situations, a portable jump starter will be a lifesaver.
You can also check out Singtech’s range of portable jump starters by clicking here.
