Car Battery died?
Clear Symptoms & Tests
Not sure if your car battery is faulty? Is your car starting with difficulty or not starting at all? In most cases, the cause is the battery. However, it can also be due to various other electrical and mechanical components.
To provide clarity, we list some of the symptoms that indicate a faulty battery here. We will also show you how you can easily test your battery at home, all by yourself and using conventional tools.
Defective Battery Symptoms
A defective car battery can manifest in several ways. It’s important to recognize the symptoms early and take action to prevent starting issues from occurring. The following signs often indicate a deeply discharged or damaged battery:
Slow starting:
The engine doesn't start immediately when turning the key, but instead cranks for a bit longer. This symptom could indicate a weak battery, but it might also point to weak spark plugs or glow plugs. In cold weather, this symptom may occur more frequently.
Weak electronics:
The car lights, radio, or other electronic devices may function weakly or irregularly with a defective battery. If multiple electrical components show these signs, you can safely assume that the battery is damaged.
Engine does not start:
If you hear only a clicking sound when turning the key, this could indicate insufficient power from the battery. Another possible cause could be a faulty starter motor.
Heating takes longer than usual:
In many vehicles, the time until the coolant reaches its optimal temperature and can start heating is bridged by a ceramic heating element. This bridging is typically active in cold outside temperatures. If the battery is weak, the ceramic element can no longer heat, and as a result, the process of warming up the interior takes longer.
Indicator light in the on-board computer:
A clear sign of a battery defect is, of course, the warning light in the onboard computer. If the battery warning light on the onboard computer does not turn off (remains on) after the start-up procedure, you can be sure that a battery replacement is necessary. This indicator was mainly present in older vehicles. Nowadays, instead of the MIL light, almost all cars show a battery management error message on the display.
- SUITABLE FOR ELECTRIC & HYBRID: Whether start-stop vehicles or electric and hybrid electric cars (xEV) - VARTA batteries ensure safety and reliability with regard to essential vehicle requirements today and in the future
- BEST START-STOP PERFORMANCE: An AGM starts faster, works harder and lasts longer, ensuring maximum fuel savings with start-stop systems
- EFFICIENT RECYCLING PROGRAM: Thanks to innovative and technologically advanced manufacturing processes, a newly produced VARTA AGM battery up to 90% consists of recycled lead
- ORIGINAL SPARE PART: As an original spare part, it ensures that the replacement battery is of the same quality as the battery originally installed. This ensures that the high energy requirements of the extensive equipment are covered
Clear Car Battery Test - Measurements
The easiest way to determine if your battery is actually defective is by using a battery tester. These are relatively inexpensive and can even test the charging function of the alternator. The battery tester measures various values to determine whether the battery needs to be replaced, charged, or serviced.
The result will then be displayed in text form on the screen. In addition to the evaluation, you can also review the individual measurements and make your own judgment about the battery. Here you can find a reliable and easy-to-use battery tester that is also commonly seen in workshops:
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Alternatively, you can measure the battery's voltage with a voltmeter or multimeter. The battery's voltage should only be measured after a minimum resting time of 5 hours.
Ideally, you should measure the battery only after the car has been standing for a full day. Only after this time will the battery have reached its true resting voltage. Otherwise, you would measure the nominal voltage since the battery would have been charged by the alternator.
- Up to 10 test functions: This self-moving meter comes with versatile measurement of AC/DC current, AC/DC volts, resistance, frequency, capacitance, continuity,...
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- Four-layer hole, supportive stand and the design of the test lead holder ensures greater convenience: this multifunctional measuring device helps users to concentrate fully on the...
To test the battery, simply take a multimeter and set it to "DC Voltage".
Next, place the black probe (Negative) on the negative terminal and the red probe (Positive) on the positive terminal of the battery.
If the displayed voltage is below 12V, your battery is defective. In the following table, you'll see which voltages reflect the battery's charge status.
| State of charge of the battery | Resting voltage |
|---|---|
| 100% | 12,85V |
| 80% | 12,60V |
| 60% | 12,35V |
| 40% | 12,20V |
| 20% | 11,90V |
| 0% | 10,75V |
State of charge as a function of the measured open-circuit voltage of the car battery (approximate values)
Additional Car Battery Tests
Although these tests are less conclusive than measuring the voltage directly at the battery, they can still be performed as an additional step. This allows you to more clearly identify a defect in the battery.
Recharging and testing
Fully charge the battery with a charger. A battery charger with automatic shut-off is recommended to prevent overcharging.
- From the company that developed the first intelligent 12 V battery charger: Proven cutting-edge technology used by over 40 of the world's most prestigious vehicle manufacturers.
- Reconditioning mode: RECOND mode restores batteries that are in poor condition or deeply discharged
- AGM mode: Special charging program for AGM batteries for a faster charging time and maximum battery life
Once the battery is fully charged, get into the car and test the battery with a test drive. After the test drive, park the vehicle and observe the next day whether the symptoms persist. If there is no improvement, you can assume that the battery is defective.
Without measuring the battery, this test is not conclusive. It could also mean that one of the electronic components is damaged and is slowly draining the battery over time. Therefore, it is advisable to test the battery with a measuring device.
Headlight wall test
Park the car in a dark area in front of a wall and start the vehicle. Turn on all electrical consumers and observe if the headlights flicker or fluctuate. If they do, this is a sign of a defective battery, as there is a voltage drop after the start.
Defective Battery Causes
The most common cause of a car battery failure is wear and tear. A battery cannot last forever due to physical reasons and can quickly lose its lifespan due to factors like contamination, cold, or poor quality.
Other causes that can also lead to a faster battery failure include:
Short trips:
Short trips give the battery less time to fully recharge via the alternator, which can lead to a gradual discharge. This discharge often goes unnoticed until the car has difficulty starting. By this point, it is usually too late to rescue the battery or charge it with a battery charger. For more information on short trips and whether they only harm diesel engines, visit: Short Trips – Only Harmful to Diesel Engines?
Cold start load:
In cold weather, battery performance decreases, which can lead to starting issues, especially with older batteries. If many short trips are also made in cold weather, this can cause the car battery to fail more quickly.
Krichstrom:
These currents always occur in a car battery when the surface of the accumulator shows contamination. The attraction of moisture caused by these impurities can lead to an electrical current flowing between the battery terminals.
Although the currents are not of high intensity, they are sufficient to slowly discharge the battery.
Alternator defective:
If the alternator experiences malfunctions or is broken, the battery can never be properly charged. This means that the battery will always be slightly more discharged than intended. The lifespan of the car battery is significantly reduced as the battery struggles with a higher voltage difference.
Broken electronics:
Electrical consumers in the vehicle, if not properly turned off, can lead to battery discharge. Furthermore, a short circuit or a loose cable can cause a continuous discharge of the battery. These faulty components or wiring can ultimately lead to a deep discharge of the battery.
Change Battery
If you've determined that your battery is defective, it obviously needs to be replaced. In older cars, replacing the car battery was simple: old battery out, new battery in, done. Nowadays, batteries are connected to a Battery Management System, which makes replacing the battery a bit more complicated.
However, this does not mean that you cannot do it yourself. We have written a complete guide on the topic: "Changing the Skoda battery - Installation, Removal & More"Guide.
This guide will show you how to easily and independently replace the battery in most VAG vehicles. The process of registering or coding the battery with the VCDS program is also included.
Costs for battery replacement - DIY or workshop?
The cost varies depending on the vehicle type and battery model. Whether in an independent or authorized workshop, the price for replacing the battery typically exceeds the €400 mark. With a DIY installation, you'll only need to cover the cost of the battery itself, which typically ranges between €100 and €220, depending on the car model and battery manufacturer.
Conclusion & Summary
If at least two of the symptoms listed above apply to your vehicle, you should test the battery as described in Chapter 2. If the tester shows less than 12 V, the battery is defective.
Anything above that could be fixed by recharging the battery and identifying power drains. The battery can be recharged using a specialized charger, which you can purchase at an affordable price.
A defective car battery can lead to unpleasant surprises. Always ensure that the battery surface is clean and try to avoid short trips. Pay close attention to the symptoms, perform the tests regularly, and consider replacing the battery in a timely manner.
If a car battery replacement is necessary, our guide will help you as mentioned earlier. In this DIY guide, the battery of a 2017 Skoda Kodiaq is replaced and programmed. Additionally, the guide explains how to choose the right battery, purchase it, and dispose of the old one. We recommend buying a new battery either through autobatterienbilliger.de or, as usual, through Amazon:
- SUITABLE FOR ELECTRIC & HYBRID: Whether start-stop vehicles or electric and hybrid electric cars (xEV) - VARTA batteries ensure safety and reliability with regard to essential vehicle requirements today and in the future
- BEST START-STOP PERFORMANCE: An AGM starts faster, works harder and lasts longer, ensuring maximum fuel savings with start-stop systems
- EFFICIENT RECYCLING PROGRAM: Thanks to innovative and technologically advanced manufacturing processes, a newly produced VARTA AGM battery up to 90% consists of recycled lead
- ORIGINAL SPARE PART: As an original spare part, it ensures that the replacement battery is of the same quality as the battery originally installed. This ensures that the high energy requirements of the extensive equipment are covered
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