A dead battery can leave you stranded and waiting for help. At the very least, it can be a serious inconvenience. Fortunately, if your battery is weakening, your Jeep will always show signs that something is wrong. As your Jeep dealer, we’d like you to know a few signs your battery is failing so you have time to visit us for a new car battery before it does.
Driving Short Distances
It may seem strange, but regularly driving short distances can weaken your battery and cause it to fail. To understand why this happens, it’s important to look at how recharging works. The battery uses a large portion of its electricity reserve to power the starter that cranks your engine. Once your engine cranks and starts, the alternator begins recharging the battery.
The battery always uses the same amount of electricity to power the starter, and the alternator needs time to replenish it. If you drive a short distance, the alternator doesn’t have time to replenish the electricity that’s been used. When you start your engine again, the battery loses more power, so your battery will weaken and eventually die. This situation can be prevented by driving a longer distance every few days to allow the battery to fully recharge.
Battery Warning Light
The battery warning light is situated on your dash panel and usually has a battery-shaped icon on it. This light links to your Jeep’s computer, and it lights up in response to any problem in the electrical system. All the components in the electrical system, including the battery and the alternator, have sensors connected to them. The sensors monitor their attached components for any sign of trouble.
If your battery is failing, its voltage output will decrease. A healthy battery produces approximately 13.5 volts under normal conditions. The sensors can detect even minute changes in your battery voltage. If the voltage drops below 13 volts, it will trigger a warning that something could be wrong, and the light will illuminate. We’ll examine your battery and the electrical system to identify and repair the problem.
Extreme Temperatures
The chemicals inside the battery are susceptible to extreme temperatures, as it alters the electrolyte balance. Temperatures over 100 F or below 10 F cause lead sulfate to build up on the copper plates inside the battery. If these temperatures persist for a sustained period, the battery will develop problems.
Some possible battery issues caused by extreme temperatures include slower charging, difficulty maintaining a charge, or your battery dying. The battery warning light will light up as a warning that something is wrong. We’ll need to examine your battery to test it for damage. If the battery has been damaged, we can quickly replace it for you.
If your battery seems to be failing, call our service department at Brown DCJR in Devine, TX.
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