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Is It a Car Battery Problem? Or Is It Something Else?
Have you ever brought your car in for what you thought was a routine car battery problem only to discover it wasn’t the battery at all? When the car won’t start or the headlights start going dim, we tend to blame the battery first. And, it’s a pretty good guess! However, there are a variety of external factors that can prevent it from working properly that have nothing to do with the battery itself. Let’s explore some of the common problems that can look like a dead car battery but are actually something else.
1. Bad Alternator/Alternator Issues
Left on its own, your car battery has a finite amount of power it can expend before it goes completely dead. It can hold onto that stored power for a few weeks if your car is parked in average conditions, but it requires constant recharging in order to power your car for more than a few hours. Fortunately, your vehicle has a built-in charger, no extension cords required. It’s called an alternator.
An alternator uses the energy generated by your engine to recharge the battery. It’s a pretty handy cycle. The battery uses stored energy to turn on the vehicle, get the motor running and power up the various electrical functions. The alternator uses a belt incorporated into the engine to pull mechanical energy from the engine and convert it into electrical energy that is stored in the battery and used to power the car.
What Happens When the Alternator Fails?
Without an alternator, your battery slowly drains while powering the car. Eventually, the battery goes completely dead and your car stops running. This can take a few hours and you may not notice if you’re making short trips or using fewer electrical functions — no radio, no headlights, etc. Many drivers first notice an alternator problem after jumpstarting their car for what they thought was a simple issue, like accidentally leaving the headlights on. When the car dies again hours later, they realize the problem may go a bit deeper.
You can learn more about troubleshooting alternator problems on our alternator service page, but here are some common alternator issues that directly impact your battery:
- Worn belts
- Damaged internal components
- Bad bearings
- Wiring issues
- Fuse issues
The alternator is one of the leading factors in car battery problems. However, there are a few other standouts that we commonly see come through the shop.
2. Loose Battery Cable Connections
Loose battery cable connections can also cause your car battery to stop working. These cables connect the car to the battery via the battery terminals — the negative and positive posts that stick up from the surface of the case. These cables are typically attached to the posts with a specialty clamp that is tightened down with a nut and bolt to ensure a secure fit. When those cables become detached, it’s like cutting the strings on a puppet — the car just shuts off!
Let’s examine why that’s a problem. First, your car does not have a fail-safe for the battery disconnecting. That’s because the battery would be part of powering that fail-safe and it can’t do that if it’s not connected to the car. The car just … stops running. If you’re on the interstate or maneuvering difficult terrain when that happens, it won’t be a fun time for anyone! Second, a loose cable can interfere with how your battery is recharged. If the alternator can’t send power back to the battery effectively, you’re going to experience more issues and potentially damage the battery permanently.
Other challenges include:
- Dead battery
- Difficulty starting
- Flickering interior lights
- Flickering headlights
- Radio going in and out
There are many reasons these cables can become loose over time. If they weren’t secured properly during battery installation, they can vibrate off while the car is driving. If the battery isn’t bolted into the car properly, that movement can also cause issues with your cables becoming loose.
The key is to check the cables periodically as part of your routine vehicle maintenance. You can also request that it gets checked during annual tune-ups and oil changes. We have an inspection service that includes the battery and the cables/connections and we also install batteries for customers who aren’t too sure about taking on the task themselves. Feel free to give us a call if you’re unsure about your cables and connections.
3. Parasitic Battery Drain
Did you know that your vehicle can siphon off power from the battery even if it’s not running? It’s a problem called parasitic drain. Parasitic battery drain is a real challenge for vehicle owners because it’s not something they can often diagnose on their own. Once you get past the easily identifiable reasons, like an interior light left on or the car ignition left in accessory mode (ACC mode) for several hours, it can become a problem for the professionals.
Let’s look at the common causes of parasitic battery drain:
- Aftermarket accessories: Lots of aftermarket mods can drain your battery, especially if they are installed incorrectly. If your battery is suddenly dying, consider if you’ve recently upgraded your stereo or added a new feature like alarms, remote start, fancy interior lighting or stereo upgrades. Even if these systems have worked for a longer period of time, they can still become a sudden power drain if a wire gets loose or a relay gets stuck.
- Chargers, AC, USB: Your car may continue to run power to various electrical ports even after it is shut off. If you leave items like GPS system systems or other electronics plugged in, they can steadily pull power from the battery while the car is parked and turned off.
- Broken relays: Relays can get in the on/off position, causing the battery to supply power to various systems even while the car is off. For example, a stuck relay might power the fuel pump even if the engine isn’t running.
- Short circuits: Short circuits can create unintended paths in your vehicle’s electrical system that cause a continuous flow of power that drains the battery.
- Vehicle computers: If your vehicle’s computer modules malfunction, they may create drains on the battery by triggering certain functions to remain “on” even if the car is not.
- Bad alternator: Bad diodes in your alternator can pull current from the battery instead of helping it charge.
4. Broken Starter
A car starter is a small-but-powerful motor designed to kick off the combustion process by starting your engine. When you turn the key (or push the button), it sends an electrical signal to the starter solenoid, subsequently triggering the starter motor and your engine
A broken starter can be a bit easier to diagnose than a bad alternator or a covert parasitic relay. That’s because there are a few telltale signs that immediately differentiate it from a dead battery.
Signs Your Car Starter May Be the Problem …
- Bright lights, lots of electrical activity: If your battery is dying, you aren’t going to have lots of energy to run your stereo and operate all your interior lights. If your engine won’t kick over but you’ve still got lots of power otherwise, you may be looking at a broken starter.
- Car won’t start even with jumper cables: You jump the car, but can’t get the engine to turn over or only hear clicking. This can signal that the problem goes beyond the battery.
- Clicking and grinding: A sudden, rapid-fire clicking, slight grinding or a single, loud click without the engine turning over can signal that your starter isn’t performing.
Starter issues can be caused by several factors: 
- Wear and tear
- Solenoid issues
- Bad wiring
- Worn parts
- Overheating
- Corrosion
- Water damage
- Oil/fluid leaks
Replacing your starter can be complicated. Once you’ve determined the problem is the starter itself, the next step is troubleshooting what needs repair/replacement. We strongly recommend you consult with an expert, especially if your starter utilizes a computer. We offer diagnostic services if you want to explore the problem further to decide next steps.
Take Your (Battery) Power Back!
It’s always frustrating to turn that key and get nothing back. It’s even more frustrating when the simplest solution we’ve all come to rely on for a dead battery — jumper cables — doesn’t instantly bring the car back to life. If you need help discovering if one of the common issues listed above is the actual cause of your car battery issues, give Honest Accurate Auto Service a call. Our experienced technicians can help you troubleshoot and repair a variety of issues related to your car battery and electrical system so you can power back up for another day on the road.
