Symptoms of a Bad or Failed Battery

Common signs include a rotten egg smell, slow crankshaft rotation on start up, battery light on, and no power to the vehicle's electronics.

The car battery is one of the most important components of any car. He is responsible for starting the engine, and without it the vehicle will not start. Throughout their life, batteries are subjected to constant cycles of charge and discharge, as well as to the high temperatures of the engine compartment where they are most commonly installed. Since they serve the important purpose of starting the engine when they fail, they can leave the car stranded and cause great inconvenience to the driver, so they should be replaced as soon as possible.

1. The smell of rotten eggs

One of the first symptoms of a battery problem is the smell of rotten eggs. Conventional lead-acid car batteries are filled with a mixture of water and sulfuric acid. As the battery wears out, some of the acid and water may evaporate, disturbing the mixture. Doing so can cause the battery to overheat or boil, causing a foul odor and, in more severe cases, even smoke.

2. Slow start

One of the first signs of a battery problem is a slow engine start. If the battery is low, it may not have enough power to crank the engine over as fast as it normally would, causing it to crank slowly. Depending on the exact condition of the battery, the engine may crank slowly and still start, or it may not crank fast enough to start at all. Starting the engine on another car or battery is usually enough to start a car on a battery that is slow to start.

3. Battery indicator lights up

Another sign of a potential battery problem is a glowing battery light. A lit battery light is a symptom usually associated with a failing alternator. However, a bad battery can also cause it to trip. The battery serves not only as a source of power to start the car, but also as a stable source of power for the entire system. If the battery is not receiving or maintaining a charge even though the alternator is charging the battery, the system will not have a power source to help stabilize the system and the battery indicator may be activated. The battery indicator will stay on until the battery fails.

4. No power to the vehicle electronics.

Probably the most common symptom of a battery problem is the lack of power to the electronics. If the battery fails or becomes discharged, it may not hold a charge and may not be able to power any of the vehicle's electronics. Upon entering the vehicle, you may notice that turning the key does not activate the electrical system, or that the headlights and switches do not work. Usually, a battery that has been discharged to this extent needs to be recharged or replaced.

The battery in the car performs a very important function, and without it the vehicle will not be able to start. For this reason, if you are experiencing a slow start of the engine or suspect that there may be a problem with the battery, you can try to check the battery yourself or take the car battery for diagnostics to a professional specialist, for example, one of AvtoTachki. They will be able to replace the battery or fix any other major issues to get your car back to full working order.