

The car battery's lead plates, the liquid electrolyte and chemical additives become free to interact. When you start the ignition, you start a complex chemical reaction. A fully charged battery can start a car engine all day at 80 F. The electrical power in your car battery is 100 percent chemistry.īatteries work best at 80 F. Remember this from high school chemistry? Cold slows down chemical reactions. Let's give you a rundown on how each car battery killer works.Ĭold suppresses a car battery's power until it's dead. Your mechanic can diagnose those by looking for volt drops.Īside from any engine issues affecting your car battery, you can expect three to five years from any car battery. There may be a broken wire draining the battery. The starter might finally have given out. It's also true that a dead car battery may be a sign of a deeper issue in your vehicle. It is true that car batteries wear out over time. Give yours a better ending with a free battery test at any Interstate All Battery Center ® location or select repair locations. How much longer will your car battery last?Įveryone's got a dead battery story. Yours can last longer if you keep it fully charged and if you guard it from the car battery killers. But before we get into the usual suspects, let's talk about the typical lifespan of a car battery.Ī car battery usually lasts three to five years.

This article shows you the main reasons a car battery dies and which factors might cause your car battery to die so soon. (And we know of a reliable auto tech at a location near you.) Why does your car battery keep dying? An exact diagnosis takes a trained automotive technician. They're affected by anything that would disrupt both electrical systems and chemical systems. No matter how tough they look, car batteries are sensitive electrochemical devices. You see, other things just break or quit working.Ĭar batteries die when they weaken from too much cold, heat, drain, corrosion or vibration that they don't have enough electrical power to crank the engine. That's what guitar-strumming comedian Demetri Martin says.

A car battery is the most dramatic of all car parts.
