Don’t Get Stranded by a Dead Battery

Car Won’t Start?
Battery, Alternator, or Starter – Which is the Problem?

If you have ever owned a car, there is a good chance that at some point you’ve experienced a dead battery. It almost always happens at an inconvenient time, with virtually no one you know anywhere nearby, during the week you cleaned out your trunk and removed the jumper cables… It is an awful feeling. But could it be your alternator, or starter, and not your battery?

Discovering Why Your Car Won’t Start

Check the Battery

When your car isn’t starting, it makes the most sense to start by checking your battery. An average car battery typically lasts 4-5 years, but may be shorter in warmer extreme climates. In cold weather, it is relatively common to find your battery has died, see our blog article about Winter Battery Tips.

You can check the battery gauge on the dashboard of your vehicle to determine if the battery is sending a charge, even if the car is turned off. If there is a dim, flickering light, it means something is drawing power. Check your commonly used connections to see if they’ve been accidentally left on, like the automatic window, wipers, or lights (dome and head lights should be checked).  Once these connections have been shut off, try the battery once again.image - applying jumper cables to battery

Sometimes, your vehicle may require a jump. If you can jump your car and get it running but then it dies again when you shut it off, this is a sign that your battery is the problem. When checking over the health of your battery, you should be sure to look at the battery cables. These can get worn and damaged over time and may be contributing to the battery problems you’ve been experiencing. Typically, a car battery will be located under the hood, toward the front of the car on either the driver or passenger side, though so vehicle models store the battery in the trunk of the vehicle. Consult your manual for the exact location.

If you have a voltmeter (a device used to measure electrical differences between two points in an electrical circuit) you can check the integrity of the battery. If it reads between 14-15 volts, then the battery is normal. If the voltmeter reads over 15 volts or less than 13 volts, then there may be a problem with the voltage regulator, the wiring, or the alternator.

Check the Alternator

A dead battery can be one of the first signs of something being wrong with the alternator. If the battery is working properly and has no damage, then the issue is more than likely with the alternator. There are a couple of simple tests you can perform to check the alternator.image - car alternator

Turn your car on and let it run, unplug the positive connection from the battery, if the car stops, then your alternator is not working properly. The positive connection from the battery is red, while the negative connection is black. (Note: DO NOT attempt to test the alternator by unplugging the negative battery cable while the car is running. This can cause damage to your vehicle’s electrical system.)

Another way to check is by monitoring the dashboard lights. If the lights come on, but then slowly start to fade, this also indicates an alternator issue. There are a few signs to be on the lookout for should you suspect that your alternator is failing:

  • You will hear a growling sound before it goes out.
  • You may smell burning rubber or hot wires coming from your alternator overheating.
  • Your headlights (dash lights, dome lights, etc.) flicker, get dimmer, or are especially bright.

Check the Starter

Your starter has arguably one of the most important jobs to do. The battery sends a burst of electricity which the starter uses to turn the engine over and start! If you turn the key, but you’re only hearing a click, there is a chance that your starter is not working properly. A starter that is failing may crank the engine slowly, or may not crank at all. This sound is very similar to the sound the car makes when the battery is dead, so make certain to confirm the battery health first.image - starter

If you have ever had a starter go out on you before, and you’re familiar with the old “hit it with a hammer” trick to loosen the solenoid to get the motor started, this may well work to get you on your way. We’d like to discourage you from opting for the hammer to the starter method, and encourage you to schedule an appointment at one of our AAMCO Minnesota locations for a FREE multi-point courtesy vehicle inspection.

Figuring out why your car is not working can be an extremely frustrating and isolating feeling. At AAMCO Minnesota, we want to help you diagnose and fix the issues you are concerned about to help get you and your vehicle safely back on the road.

Other Articles of Interest

Sounds Your Car Makes When It Needs Repairs

Car Maintenance on a Budget

The information contained in this website, or any of our content, videos, and publications is for general information purposes only. Learn more about our information disclaimer »