How to get rid of dead car battery

If you’re like most people, you take your car for granted. You get in it and drive where you want to go with little thought to what’s going on under the hood.

But one day, something goes wrong – your car won’t start. It could be that your car's battery is dead. Don’t panic!

You have many options to help your car start again. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the causes of a dead car battery and what to do to get your car moving again.

8 Reasons for Dead Car Batteries

An electric consumer is the most likely cause of dead car batteries. It can also be due to a faulty electric consumer which won’t shut off when you remove the key from the ignition. You can also experience it due to cold temperatures.

Below is a list that explains what can cause dead batteries in cars.

1. There are no electric consumers left.

An empty battery can be caused by human error. Sometimes, you forget to close the door or turn off your lights properly when leaving your vehicle. Your car's battery will die if the headlights are left on for more than a couple of hours or overnight.

Modern cars do have warning signs when the headlights are off, like a beeping sound. However, it is easy to miss if you're in hurry.

2. Consumers of electric power draw electricity

Have you just installed some electronics, such as a car radio or GPS to your vehicle? You might have wired the devices incorrectly, and these will likely cause them to remain on until you turn off the ignition.

You can also have it caused by faulty ignition switches that aren't turning off after you turn off the ignition. This can make it difficult to diagnose and may require the assistance of an expert with the appropriate equipment.

3. It's bad news for the alternator

The alternator’s job is always to charge the car battery while you are driving. An alternator that is beginning to fail can prevent the battery from being charged properly. If this happens, the battery may start to run out.

On idle, you can measure the car's battery voltage to check the alternator. If your alternator is in excellent condition, you should see a voltage of at least 14 volts.

4. Low car batteries and cold weather

Is your car outside when it was freezing? If the temperature drops to below zero, car batteries may freeze. It can happen especially if the battery in your car isn't fully charged, or if it is completely empty.

Your car's battery may have been damaged by the cold. In this instance, it is necessary to have it replaced.

5. It is possible to drive only short distances

People don't use their cars a lot. You can limit the distance your car is driven. You may already know that the alternator charges your vehicle's battery when you drive.

Short distance driving can lead to the car drawing more energy than the alternator is capable of producing. If this happens, it could result in the battery draining and eventually dying.

6. Car battery maintenance is not done properly

To have long-lasting car batteries, you need to maintain them. You will need to clean the terminals and fill the batteries with water if they have refilling holes.

It could be the reason your car's battery is dead if you have never done any maintenance.

7. Car Battery gone bad

Sometimes your car is just getting old. A car battery has an average lifetime of around 5 years, and if it hasn’t been changed within this timeframe – there is absolutely a chance that your car battery is just old and needs to be replaced.

You can often check your car battery’s condition with a car battery analyzer.

8. Batterie Cables that are loose or corroded

You might find that the problem with your car battery may not be so serious.

It is usually caused by corrosion of the terminals, which can be easily cleaned with acid.

How do you deal with dead car batteries?

The best method to get your car's battery charged again is with a car-battery charger. Jump-starting your vehicle with another car is possible if there's no charger or you are short on time. If you don't have one, you can use the jump starter.

There are many ways to deal with a dead car battery. It all depends on your speed and the tools that you have. Here’s a more detailed list of what to do if your car battery is dead:

1. Jump-Start with Another Car

When your car battery is dead in emergencies, the best thing to do is jump-starting it from another car’s battery.

You only need a car that has a functioning car battery to jump start it. A pair of jumper cables is all you will need. A pair is a must if you don't have one.

Although the jump-starting process is simple, it's important to pay attention to not cause shorts that may result in damage.

1. With the handbrake, put both cars into park or neutral. Find the car battery locations by lifting the hoods. Some cars may have the car battery in their trunk.
2. Attach the red jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of your car battery and the other end to the other car’s positive (+) terminal.
3. Attach the black jumper cable to the negative (-) terminal to the other car’s battery first. Then you can connect the other end of the cable to a metal-clean surface on your car’s body or at the engine. You can also attach it to the negative (-) terminal of your car battery if you can’t find any other place, but it is not recommended.
4. Allow your vehicle to start for about a minute.
5. Remove the jumper cable that is negative from each car.

The next time you have to deal with this situation, it is a good idea to get a jumpstart.

2. The car's battery should be charged

It is best to slow charge the car's battery if it is left parked in your garage and you are not driving fast. A slower charging rate is more beneficial for your car's battery than jumping-starting it.

RELATED: How long does it take to charge a dead car battery?

3. Change the battery in your car

The average car battery should be changed every five years. You should replace your car battery when it is old. This will prevent you from having to recharge it again in the future.

4. Find out what's drawing you power.

The first thing you should do after starting your car is to determine what caused it to stop working.

You will find additional information below about the causes of sudden death in your car's battery.