The average American household spends 1.5% of their annual income on repairing their vehicles.

With most households owning almost two vehicles on average, budgeting for costly car repairs is important. And the only way to budget is to prepare for the worst.

By learning to diagnose car problems early, you avoid doing more, potentially expensive damage to your car. As one of the most commonly replaced components of your vehicle, being able to recognize the signs your car battery is dead is among the first lessons you should learn.

Keep reading to learn more about your car battery and when it’s time to replace it.

What Does Your Car Battery Do?

Your ignition starts when you press your starter button or turn your keys. The ignition then sends a signal to your battery. Upon receiving that signal, a chemical reaction in the battery results in all the electrical energy you need to power your car.

But your battery does more than just get the engine cranking and start the motor. It’s also the power behind everything electrical in your vehicle. It’s responsible for internal and external lighting, your dashboard, your radio, and even your GPS.

12 Signs Your Car Battery Is Dead

You don’t have to order a new car when your battery dies. It’s a relatively simple replacement that most DIY enthusiasts can do.

But before getting started, make sure your diagnosis is correct. Below are 12 signs your car battery is dead or very close to needing replacement.

1. The Engine Doesn’t Start

It may seem obvious, but your engine not starting can be the result of many different things besides the battery. You’ll know your engine problems are the result of a dead battery if you hear absolutely nothing when you turn the ignition.

No sound means that the motor isn’t getting any power at all and that process starts with your battery. But if you’re also experiencing problems with your lights and other electronics, you can be sure your battery needs replacing.

2. The Battery Won’t Charge

To be sure your battery is dead, you can check if it will take a charge. But if you’re using heavy-duty jumper cables and there’s still no voltage, then your battery is dead.

3. Slow Engine Crank

The more your battery is used, the more it becomes worn. Regular wear and tear take their toll on the battery’s ability to start your engine.

When your car takes longer to start or the starter motor sounds labored, it’s a sign that the battery is taking longer to create a charge for the starter. This is also a good sign that you should replace your battery soon. And if your motor cranks but the stops, you’ll need to replace the battery immediately.

4. Your Battery is More Than Four Years Old

In theory, a car battery can last as many as 6 years. But in reality, that lifespan only applies to ideal driving conditions and climates. Even with the best vehicle maintenance tips, means no highway rush-hour traffic, frequent stops, humidity, extreme temperature changes, etc.

But if you experience four seasons and drive your car to work every day, you’re not in an ideal situation. This is why most car batteries have a lifespan of about 4 years. When you’re approaching 3 to 4 years on your battery, it’s time to start thinking about a replacement – or at least keep your eyes out for the warning signs.

5. Odors

A leaking battery can create an odor akin to rotten eggs. If you can smell this after opening your hood, your battery may have sustained serious damage or an internal short. Leaking batteries should be replaced immediately.

6. Electrical Problems

When your battery starts losing its charge, all of the electrical components of your vehicle will be affected. If it’s not operating on full power, it can’t run anything else on full power.

If you open your door and your dome light doesn’t go on, your door chime doesn’t sound, your radio won’t play, your wipers don’t work, and your car won’t start… you have a dead battery. And if your battery is weak, it may present itself in dimmer lights and a battery that dies faster when you plug in devices such as phone chargers or GPS.

7. Dim Headlights

Your headlights consume a lot of the electricity produced by your battery. To check how your battery is doing, switch on your headlights while the car is off. Then, turn the car on and check the brightness again.

If you notice a big difference in the brightness of your lights with your car on and off, it’s a symptom of a dying battery or a low charge level.

8. Damage to the Battery Case

If your car is exposed to extreme hot or extremely cold weather, it can affect the integrity of the battery. Your battery case can swell and crack as a result of these fluctuations, and this causes the battery to underperform.

If you do live in a climate that gets very cold, very hot, or both, consider looking into a free of maintenance battery. They’re built to be durable against all kinds of external factors.

9. Power Drains Overnight

Of all the signs your car battery is dead, this one is a little different. In this situation, you might think you need to replace your battery, but that’s probably not the case at all.

If you’re having to boost your car after it’s been parked overnight, but not again while you use it for the day, your battery probably isn’t the problem. Usually, this is a sign that you have an electrical issue. Over the course of an entire evening, that issue has enough time to drain your battery.

10. Backfiring

A battery that’s on its way out might cause your car to backfire. But before replacing your battery because of backfiring, check your carburetor and the black box. You’ll want to rule these potential causes out before paying for a new battery.

11. Check Engine Light

A check engine light can mean many different things. Which is why you’ll need to check your manual to see what it signifies. It very well could be telling you that your battery is dying.

12. Car Needs Gas to Start

A car shouldn’t need any extra help to get started. If, after turning the ignition, you have to give the car some gas to get it to start, that’s a sure sign that your car battery is dying.

More Useful Information

Recognizing the signs your car battery is dead is relatively easy once you know what to look for. Keep in mind that all your electronics are related to your battery, and so is the way in which your car starts up. When you notice problems with either of these, it could be signaling a dying or dead battery.

And for more useful tips and information for your every day, read more here.