3 Signs Students in Mechanic Colleges Should Watch for if They Suspect a Car Battery Is Dying

Car batteries always seem to die at the worst times, like when a driver is running late for work, or late at night when nobody is around. If someone had caught the problem earlier, there might have been something that could have been done. In the moment, though, the driver will need to call for a tow to get their car over to the nearest garage.

In your future career, you can help save people from this kind of headache by catching a dying battery early on and replacing it before anything bad can happen.

Here are some of the warning signs you should look for that can help you spot problem batteries before they completely die out.

1. A Slow Crank Can Indicate That a Car Battery Needs Replacing

The little burst of whirring sounds that occurs when you turn the key is known as “cranking.” Most of the time, a car’s battery will crank fairly quickly when a car is being started. With a dying battery, though, the car’s cranking will sound slower. Here is an example of what slow cranking sounds like:

This sound means that the engine belt is not receiving enough energy, and is moving at too slow of a speed for the car to start. Frequently, a dying battery will be the culprit. Fortunately, this issue will be very apparent to professionals with auto mechanic training, who will then be able to recommend the battery get replaced.

2. Frequent Jump Starts Indicate to Pros With Auto Mechanic Training that a Battery Is Dying

Often, a battery’s issue isn’t that it’s dead, but rather that it’s just out of power. When this happens, a jump start, which involves using a functioning car battery to recharge the depowered car battery, can get the car back to working order in just a couple of minutes.

Cars should only need a jump in certain circumstances, though, like when the car’s headlights or interior lights are left on for a prolonged period while the car isn’t running. When a car needs frequent jumps—such as several times in the same week—it means there is likely an issue with the battery. It might be that the battery is dying, or that there is a faulty connection or an issue with a cable. Good mechanic colleges teach students how to work with car batteries, so attending one will be a great way for you to learn to properly diagnose and repair the issues with a car that needs frequent jump starts.

3. For Pros With Auto Mechanic Training, Dim Headlights Are an Early Sign of Dying Batteries

For people who drive at night, a good set of functioning headlights is essential for safety, helping keep incoming objects in clear view. Sometimes, though, the lights might start to behave differently. They might start to look dimmer, making it tough to see things in low-light conditions. This often happens when the lights are not getting enough energy to function properly, and is a common indication that a battery is dying.

You can use a multimeter to check the level of charge the car’s battery has. A battery below 12.45 volts is low, and needs to be recharged. If the battery loses charge quickly, or doesn’t accept the charge, it’s likely that a replacement will be needed.

Do you want to train to become a car mechanic in Cambridge?

Visit Automotive Training Centres for more information about getting started!