Check in Time: How to Recognize a Weakening Car Battery

Car batteries are a frequent culprit behind mechanical failures, with issues stemming from the constant cycles of charging and discharging, the age of the vehicle, and the battery itself. Understanding how to identify a weakening battery can save drivers significant trouble.

A straightforward method to check a battery's charge involves parking the car in a dark area facing a wall. With the engine off, turn on the headlights. If the lights noticeably dim after a short period, it signals that the battery is losing its power.

While a voltmeter offers a precise measurement, it's not a tool typically found in every household. Drivers should also pay attention to vehicle locking procedures. Leaving lights on or doors ajar can lead to battery drain, particularly in certain car models where interior lighting remains active.

Marin Morava, a technical advisor at HAK (Croatian Automobile Club), explains that smaller capacity batteries, common in gasoline-powered cars, can deplete entirely overnight if interior lights are left on, rendering the engine unstartable the next day. This is a common problem, especially with batteries older than two years, whose capacity diminishes significantly after numerous charge and discharge cycles.

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Batteries of smaller capacity, such as those found in vehicles with gasoline engines, can drain overnight if the interior lighting remains on, making it impossible to start the engine the next day.