Why Is My Car Battery Dead And What Can I Do About It
Why Is My Car Battery Dead And What Can I Do About It
Have you ever thought about what makes a car battery work its magic? It's one of those things we take for granted, we just get into the car and go, and when it dies we ask why is my car battery dead? Read below for some basic information as to what goes into the battery construction and how it relates to our cars function.
What takes place is our car battery produces an electrical charge by way of a chemical reaction within the battery. This electrical current is used to power the starter which starts the cars engine and also powers all of the accessories in the car.
Inside the battery are positive and negative lead plates which react with an electrolyte solution that they are sitting in. This reaction causes the electrons to move from one plate to another which causes the voltage. The electrolyte solution is a mix of water and sulfuric acid. When the battery is fully charged this water and sulfuric acid mixture is 65% water and 35% acid.
What causes a battery to fail or die? If you live where it gets really cold the plates can flake off due to the expansion and contraction. The flakes can build up at the bottom of the battery case and create a brown sludge which in turn can cause a short.
In hot climates the problem can be positive corrosion or positive grid growth. The plates can even buckle from the extreme heat. All of these will reduce the life of your battery. It is said that you might get a good 3 years life out of your battery in hot climates.