It’s funny how batteries usually manifest problems when you least expect them. The typical warning signs are usually minor, but when left untreated, these battery issues can damage your other vehicle components or place your life in danger. Before you experience another battery issue or breakdown, it’s always best to closely monitor your car and provide it with necessary preventative care. If you aren’t too confident about working on your car, you can go to a top-rated auto mechanic shop so that they can accurately diagnose and repair your vehicle’s battery issues.
So, why do batteries fail?
Batteries don’t last forever. Depending on the application and operating conditions, a standard car battery can last for up to five years. Various factors are known to contribute to battery failure which can be categorised under manufacturing and non-manufacturing faults.
Manufacturing Faults typically occur within three months after initial battery installation.
- Short Circuit or Dead Cells
In this case, one cell will manifest a dramatically lower specific gravity reading than the other cells.
- Internal Break
An internal break is caused by physical damage to a battery during its transportation. Quality batteries from reputable manufacturers usually perform stringent quality assurance and inspection to ensure all batteries leaving their facilities will be in excellent working condition once installed.
Non-manufacturing faults are issues that develop months or even years after initial use. The most common issues attributed to non-manufacturing issues are a faulty electrical system and actual battery applications.
- Natural Wear and Tear
Wear and tear are natural occurrences that happen as your car battery ages. Grid metal corrosion and other active material may be lost from the plate. When left unchecked or neglected, your battery may no longer start altogether. Hotter climates or high temperature are known to accelerate the rate of deterioration of batteries.
- Physical
Improper fitting, handling, and storage of a battery result in external damage and subsequent operation failure.
- Wrong Application
Installing a smaller, less powerful battery or a battery designed to be used for another application usually results in premature failure.
- Negligence
If you fail to maintain ideal fluid level, the internal components will malfunction and soon after fail altogether.
- Sulphation
This issue occurs when a battery is allowed to operate in a discharged state for a long period.
- Over-Charging
This problem is typically due to incorrect set or alternator voltage control failure.
- Under-Charging
The main causes of undercharging are stop start driving, faulty alternators, and short journeys.
- Discharge
When you leave lights and other car accessories turned on for extended periods, your battery may experience malfunction.
Taking good care of your battery will prolong its service lifespan. If you aren’t too sure whether this activity is one that you can do yourself, you can seek the services of a reputable car mechanic in Sydney.
Inspection and Maintenance Pointers for Car Batteries
Testing and inspection from auto mechanic specialists will help you optimise battery life. A routine inspection during a car servicing will ensure its optimum performance.
If you decide on doing the car battery inspection yourself, here are some helpful pointers:
- Check the battery’s state of charge. Check the state of charge indicator located at the top of the battery. A more reliable way to check your car battery is by using a voltmeter. This diagnostic will determine your battery’s current performance capabilities. When using the voltmeter, simply remove the vent caps and check the hydrometer to identify your car battery’s specific gravity reading. By rule, a battery should have a stabilised charge above 12.5 volts and a specific gravity reading above 1.240.
- Make sure that the battery top is free from dirt, grime, and is completely clean and dry before closing the hood. A dirt battery is more likely to discharge when there are contaminants on the battery casing.
- Inspect a battery’s various elements such as screws, clamps, cables, and terminals and check for damage, loose connections, and breakage.
- You may also apply a thin coating of high temperature grease onto posts and cable connections for better protection.
- If you notice your battery casing to be damaged or warped, it may have overheated or was overcharged. In this case, replace the battery or have an automatic check closely for effective resolution.
- If your vehicle uses a maintainable battery, it’s recommended to check if your battery has adequate levels of electrolyte covering the battery plates. During top-up, Sydney auto mechanics recommend to not overfill the battery as this may result in an overflow when fully charged. Use distilled or demineralised water and never use sulphuric acid when topping up.
If you want to learn more on how you can maximise your battery use, regular battery inspection is a must. This procedure is typical during car servicing or routine car inspection. For affordable and quality battery checks and diagnosis, call on the reliable auto mechanics at HP Automotive. Strongly positioned as one of the most dependable auto mechanic shops in Sydney, you can rest assured that your car is in good hands. If you have more questions about battery care and maintenance, please call our direct line on 02 9979 8372 today.