If the car does not start, then most likely the reason for this is the insufficient starting current supplied by the battery. The simplest and most obvious reason for this is the lack of recharging due to the car being idle for a long time. In more complex cases, the battery fails and requires repair or replacement. If you want to understand the problems with your battery or are looking for a cash for junk cars quote calculator, then this article is for you.
Signs And Causes Of Battery Failure
The battery provides the necessary energy to start the car engine. It powers the starter, which in turn rotates the crankshaft and starts the engine. Without a well-charged battery, the car will not start. The role of the battery is extremely important, and therefore you should know about the main problems of this element and how to solve them.
Fast Self-discharge
Even a serviceable battery without load can lose energy in an amount of up to 0.5% of its capacity per day. But if the battery loses up to 5 or 10% of its original charge, it’s time to solve the problem. A sign of rapid self-discharge of the battery is engine failure when the car is idle for no more than seven days.
However, the reasons for the rapid leakage of energy from the battery may be not only its malfunction but also problems in the vehicle’s electrical circuit itself. The problem may also be caused by improperly connected equipment, as a result of which it continues to draw amp-hours from the battery even after the engine is stopped.
Therefore, you should not immediately replace a dead battery with a new one. First, the suspicious battery needs to be charged and removed from the car. If the battery itself begins to quickly lose energy, then self-discharge actually occurs. The main reasons for this problem are:
- low-quality electrolyte;
- electrolyte separation, in which the acid, which has a higher density compared to water, falls down the can;
- destruction of plates;
- clogging of the electrolyte with plate particles;
- contamination of battery terminals.
Electrolyte Boiling
Unlike traditional boiling, electrolyte boiling does not occur due to its high temperature. There are usually two reasons for excessive evaporation of the battery fluid:
- improper operation of the relay regulator, as a result of which the battery is recharged and the water in it breaks down into oxygen and hydrogen;
- sulfation of the battery plates, which does not allow them to fully interact with the electrolyte, which leads to the battery not receiving enough energy, as well as electrolysis.
In fact, the battery is not to blame for the malfunctions related to the first case. Here you just need to repair the generator or relay. But sulfation needs to be dealt with.
Sulfation Of Battery Plates
As in the case of self-discharge, the plates of even a healthy battery are gradually coated with lead sulfate. Another thing is that frequent and deep discharges of the battery catalyze this process, and the salts grow in such quantities that they significantly limit the contact area of the electrodes with the electrolyte. In such conditions, it would be naive to expect high performance from the battery. Some signs of battery sulfation:
- significant reduction in battery capacity;
- weak cold start current;
- the battery boils when charging.
Short Circuit
When the plates in one of the cans short out, the voltage in the entire battery drops to 10-10.5 V. Thus, the battery receives two volts less from the faulty container.
To identify a short-circuited can, you need to put the battery on charge and, before completing its replenishment with electricity, determine in which container the electrolyte has not boiled. There you should look for the cause of the malfunction. Typically, a short circuit occurs as a result of:
- destruction of plates caused by their wear or violation of battery operating rules;
- deformation of the battery case;
- factory defect.
A short-circuited battery should be carefully examined for swelling or damage to the case.
Opening The Battery Plates
Getting rid of unwanted contact between battery plates is technically not difficult. However, such repairs rarely achieve the rated voltage at the battery terminals.
Usually, if the battery plates are short-circuited, it is washed with distilled water. The cleaning method is as follows:
- the battery is half-filled with distilled water;
- the battery is shaken to lift sediment from the bottom;
- the battery suddenly turns over, the water is drained;
- washing is repeated several times;
- new electrolyte is poured into the battery;
The battery is charged in several stages, between which the electrolyte density is measured and adjusted if necessary.
However, a battery with deformed plates, even after thorough cleaning, is unlikely to boast high performance. Well, if the battery case is damaged, washing the unit with water will be of little use.
Battery Explosion
A short circuit in the battery can not only reduce the voltage at its output but also lead to a real explosion of the device. The reasons for such an emergency could be:
- severe battery overcharging;
- short circuit when starting the engine using power cables;
- low electrolyte level.
The second scenario is possible when a negative power cable is connected between two cars. In such a situation, it is enough to accidentally touch the hood or crankcase with the positive pole for the battery to spark. Oxyhydrogen gas accumulating due to low electrolyte levels in the upper part of old battery cases and oil spills in the engine compartment can cause an explosion that can rip the battery cover off.
In case of any malfunction of the battery, you can simply replace it with a new one, but ignoring the problems can lead to an explosion of the battery and damage to the car itself. We recommend correcting problems in time if you do not want to look for a cash for junk cars quote calculator to sell your damaged vehicle.
Final Thoughts
During their service, batteries encounter a variety of faults. Batteries can quickly discharge, sulfate, short out, and finally simply explode. Caring for the device consists mainly of keeping the terminals clean, and for serviced batteries, also monitoring the condition of the electrolyte. If your car no longer needs a battery or maintenance, you can quickly sell it with the help of the JunkCarsUs company in whatever city in the USA you are located. You can use a junk cars quote calculator to estimate the value of a car before selling it.
