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United Tire and Service News

What Caused My Drained Car Battery?

6/17/2020 9:58:00 AM | (2233) View Count | Return

A drained car battery can happen suddenly or gradually over time. When it happens suddenly, something likely caused your battery to lose its charge. Negligence and human error often cause batteries to lose power, but a quick jump or recharge will restore them. Most often, you need a battery replacement, since it's likely at the end of its service life, and will not take a full charge. A timely replacement often helps to prevent a dead battery and additional costs and inconvenience for you. Our ASE-certified technicians at United Tire can inspect and replace batteries on any make or model vehicle.

What causes a car battery to die quickly?

When you buy a new car battery and properly care for it, about three years of reliable use is a good standard. Much more than that and you are pushing the drained car battery

battery near the end of its service life and it should be replaced as a matter of preventive maintenance. Other times, you have a seemingly good battery that is relatively new, and it suddenly does not have enough power to turn over your car. Car batteries die suddenly from several common causes, including:

You left the lights or stereo on when you last parked your car.
The charging system is not working.
Extreme temperatures accelerated the discharge rate.

A newer car battery can take some abuse and still continue working well for at least a couple more years. If you leave the lights on and it loses most of its stored power, the battery might suffer a little loss of its service life by not fully recharging. It still will take and hold a strong enough charge to start your car on even the coldest of mornings, but it cannot hold the same level of charge that it did when brand new. As that maximum charge level slowly reduces over time.

Corroded Connections Make a Big Difference

Four seasons of driving weather in the greater Philadelphia area subjects your car to a lot of rain, snow, and other inclement weather. All that weather can cause contamination and corrosion on your battery terminals and the cables connecting the battery to the alternator and starter motor. Corrosion and weak connections mean your battery is not getting the same charge that it should from the alternator and will not send full power to the starter. The battery has to work harder with less juice and eventually dies from a shortened life. Regular cleanings and replacing a bad cable can restore full charging, starting, and electrical power to and from your battery.

Charging Systems Sometimes Cause Problems

The charging system needs to work properly for your battery to hold a full charge and stay reliable for as long as possible. When the alternator is worn out, or there's a bad drive belt or cable connecting it to the battery, the battery does not get its full charge. If the alternator is bad, a new one will fix the problem. Regular checks and replacing the alternator belt or serpentine belt when applicable will help to keep the charging system working its best.

Schedule Battery Service Now

If your car has a weak battery, dim lights when you get in, or just plain will not start, you likely need battery service. United Tire has 13 independently owned locations across the greater Philadelphia area. Each has a full supply of new car batteries to get your motor running again. Our team is ready to help when you need us. Schedule your next appointment online.

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Visit United Tire & Service for Quality Tires and Auto Repair Near You

At United Tire & Service, our staff is here to serve customers throughout Pennsylvania. We offer top-quality auto repair services done by expert technicians. From an oil change or brake repair to auto air conditioning repair, muffler repair, engine diagnostics, wheel alignment, car batteries, fleet repair, tire repair, suspension repair and Pennsylvania state vehicle inspections, we do it all. We also stock a wide selection of tires from all the top brands in the industry including Goodyear Tires, Dunlop Tires, Kelly Tires, and many more. Schedule an appointment with us today at one of our locations in Concordville, Downingtown, Emmaus, Feasterville, Phoenixville, Southampton, Paoli, West Chester or Willow Grove, PA. We are your number one source for top quality, affordable auto repair and tires!