Signs of a broken Starter battery

Before the battery completely gives up the ghost, there may be some warning signals. We help you to recognize the signs of a potentially broken battery at an early stage.

There are various signs of a defective car battery that are relatively easy to identify:

The starter does not start the engine directly during a cold start and revs a little longer.
The engine only starts with great effort.
The indicator lights and other electronic consumers weaken during the starting process.

Don't be fooled: During the journey, the performance of the consumers usually normalizes. But this is not an indication that the battery is running properly again. On the contrary, the problems often return at the next startup and intensify from time to time.

If you notice this process on your car, it is essential to check your battery to ensure that it is in working order.

How to check your 12V car battery at home!

If you don't want to go to the workshop for the time being, you can also test your battery at home first. There are different ways to do this – here we present two options:

1. Charge your battery

Probably the easiest way to check the function of your battery is to equip the starter battery with a suitable charger, e.g. overnight. Alternatively, you can bypass the car battery with another vehicle to charge it. However, you should then travel a few kilometres by car so that the battery is fully charged.

If you notice that the battery is still weakening after the successful charging process, this can be a sign of a defect.

2. Check the voltage of your battery

You can use a battery tester to check the voltage of your car battery. The different voltages in a 12V car battery can be interpreted as follows:

Voltage range	Significance	Solution approach
Over 12.4 volts	Fully Charged	The battery seems to be fine. If problems still occur, you should have your car checked by a workshop.
12.0 to 12.4 volts	Not fully loaded	The battery needs to be charged. However, if problems occur again in the near future, the battery may have a defect.
Below 12.0 volts	Not charged or deep discharged	The battery is deeply discharged and can no longer be charged with a standard charger. Finally, have your battery checked by a workshop.

The battery is still weakening – what now?

In each of these cases: If the typical signs of a broken starter battery explained above continue to occur, you should visit a workshop for a final diagnosis.

Because a defective car battery is not always the cause of the engine no longer starting properly. Here are just a few scenarios that can also be the cause of the weak engine performance and affect the battery:

1. Dirt on the starter battery

We recommend that you regularly check your car battery for dirt, especially at the poles, and clean it with suitable care accessories. Because if the contacts of the battery are stuck together by dirt, oil or other things, the service life of the battery suffers.

Contamination should not be underestimated: not only can durability be impaired by it, but leakage currents can also occur, which in the worst case can result in a short circuit of the car battery.

2. Electronic consumers draw electricity

The power consumption of electronic consumers in cars is often underestimated. But the more consumers draw power from the battery, the sooner it loses power. Therefore, it can also happen that the battery fails if the car's lights are accidentally left on and a one-time high energy consumption is produced.

In some cases, there are also power consumers such as an on-board computer or an immobilizer, which demand particularly high performance from the battery.

3. Undercharging the car battery

In the best case, the starter battery in the car should be fully charged again and again to prevent deep discharge. Most of the time, this happens independently through longer car journeys. However, if the car is often used for short distances or is sometimes in the yard for several days, you should help with a charger.

If this is not observed, a deep discharge of the battery can usually not be prevented, which can lead to sulfation. With this, the battery loses considerable and irrevocable capacity, which leads to an imminent end of the battery.

4. Influence of the alternator

The alternator or generator also affects the battery. If it is set incorrectly, it can put excessive pressure on the starter battery, which accelerates the aging process of the battery. Likewise, a defective alternator can no longer fully charge the car battery at all and the engine can no longer be started as a result.

5. Improper attachment of the battery

When it comes to the car battery, it is essential to always ensure that it is firmly seated and properly supported. Place the battery in the engine compartment as intended by the car manufacturer so that it cannot slip. This also drives the aging of the battery and can even lead to a defect in the starter battery.

6. Defect of the starter

As soon as the starter of the car has a defect, it also puts an enormous strain on the battery. Because it is stuck, it draws more current than usual from the starter battery, which in turn makes the engine very difficult to turn. Reasons for a broken starter can be that its interior is dirty or that it suffers from simple old age.

This is what you have to do now!

Before you spend money on a new battery, it is advisable to go to a specialist. In this way, the source of the fault of your weakening engine can be identified and a replacement of the car battery may still be prevented. Because most of the time, a defect in the battery is not so easy to judge for yourself.

Also, a good 12V starter battery can last 5 to 6 years under normal circumstances. With good care of the battery, it can also be used for a longer period of time. We recommend that you maintain and check your battery regularly. This allows you to prevent unwanted surprises and extend the life of your battery.

source : How do I know if my car battery is broken?