What Happens if Your Battery Dies While Driving?

If you’re ever unexpectedly left with a lifeless battery on the side of the road, don’t worry. You’re not the first person to get stuck in this position and you won’t be the last. There are several remedies you can try and, if you’re lucky, none of these things will had to happen at all. Always have a charge. Modern cars, as many early adopters of electric vehicles have found, include larger batteries as standard, to make up for the absence of the need for an internal combustion engine. As this move toward electric vehicles accelerates, battery technology will increasingly come into line with smaller and lighter cars. Increased range will become the norm for people who own electric vehicles. Such devices are likely to become more mainstream in the future, but they are still fairly rare and this makes it difficult to predict how long your battery will take to “die.” Depending on the age and type of car, you can often get for around $2000 just for a replacement. If you drive a higher-end luxury or sports car with a complicated electrical system, the price and complexity are such that repairs can be equally exorbitant. It can be impossible to know exactly what the problem is when charging your car with a dead battery, and irreversible damage can occur if replaced incorrectly. For this reason, fixing a car with a dead battery can be a time consuming and expensive affair. Here Specialty Automotive Tools Reviews will show you what happens if your battery dies while driving and tips to fix it.

What Happens if Your Car Battery Dies While Driving?

If you realize when the battery in your car is already dead, it would be easy for you to ride to the nearest auto supply and purchase a fully charged used car battery. Take note though; this is not always the case, and there’s no guarantee that the battery you buy at the nearest auto supply will be fully charged, too. In this case, you cannot drive a car right after you got a new car battery or you will just experience the same issue that you had with your old vehicle.

Fortunately, modern cars are built such that the effects of dead battery can be limited. However, if you are not prepared, the consequence can be quite bad – even for new cars.

1. Engine Dies

With no keys to turn in the ignition, the engine cannot survive. The car will mostly just shut off, sometimes beginning to emit smoke out of the exhaust pipe.

2. Lights Turn Off

As soon as there is no power being passed through the main fuses, none of the car lights will remain active. Depending on the capacity of the battery, you might be able to buy some time by turning on the emergency lights – especially if the dead battery is an unexpected event.

3. Power Steering Disappears

This has the direct impact of the loss of your normal driving position and of the centering effect. As a result, you should avoid harsh maneuvers such as turns and emergency stops unless you need to use the car If your car battery dies while driving, the engine will shut off, the lights will turn off, the power steering will disappear, and the radio, HVAC, dashcam, etc. will stop working.

What to do if your car battery dies while driving

If your car battery dies, do you have to listen to the “D” word? You can get a new battery – but there are practical concerns beyond that. Where can you go to get one? If you search hard enough, you might be able to find a brick-and-mortar store that carries all kinds of batteries – even some of the less common sizes and styles. Or you might be able to phone a roadside assistance service or auto shop that can supply automotive batteries. But what about the ones that don’t actually stock batteries – the kind that you’ll have to order. You need a reliable supplier like Black & Decker That way you know that the battery you need will be there when and where you need it. But sometimes things go wrong.

1. Pull Over Quickly It’s bad enough when your car’s battery dies while you’re driving, let alone when there are no reliable places along the side of the road to stop so that you can jump it and get things up and running again. To be on the safe side, you need to get the car to a safe area—the road shoulder, the shoulder of a passing or oncoming lane, or even neutral grounds in a pinch. Avoid highways as much as you can because they tend to have a lot of traffic stoppages and car-based construction, which is bad if you’re trying to jump your car.

2. Set Up Roadside Flares Once you’re stopped on the side of the road, you need to make your car visible to traffic. You should specifically place brightly colored flares far enough away from the side of the road so that drivers can see them but within towing range. Make sure that these flares are visible from a few different perspectives so that everyone surrounding can see them in case of an emergency or accident.

3. Try Restarting Your Car If your battery is completely dead, you can try restarting the car. After you’ve stopped the car, turn the car on and immediately turn the car off. Repeat this process until you hear the telltale clicking sound of the charging system. Turn the car back on and allow it to charge fully. The lights in the car should turn on while it’s charging. It’s best to try this process out in warmer months since this is when the car’s battery is at its highest temperature. It’s less likely in winter months.

4. Get a Jump-Starter If you can’t seem to get your car started, you can check the local towing association or AAA for jump-starters capable of helping you get things back up and running again. The charge is usually less than $100.

5. Tow Your Car and Repair It If your car is dead and you can’t seem to get it going again, it’s time to call a tow truck. If the battery has failed completely, they might be able to turn your car on and get you going again. Otherwise, it’s time to stop by the nearest service center and have them sort the problem out for you!

What to do if your car battery dies while parked

If you find yourself in a jam with a dead car battery, there’s no need to panic. There are a few different steps you can take that will ensure everything will work out well, and without you having to sacrifice your entire afternoon. You will need to take your car to a professional for repairs, so get the car to a safe spot and turn off your engine as soon as it starts to die. Once the car is turned off, remove the key from the ignition and remove the fuses from the car’s fuse box located under the dashboard. Turn the steering wheel towards the curb or a wall to ensure that any nearby vehicles or objects don’t hit your car as you drift into yet another parking space.

>>> How to remove bugs from your car

How to charge your car battery

We understand how frustrating it can be to be left stranded with a dead battery. When your car battery dies, you may be left without a means of transportation to get to work, take a family members to the hospital, or even attend an important event. If your car battery dies, there are a few things that you can do to keep yourself safe, figure out what’s wrong with your car, and possible solutions for what you can do to get back on the road.

1. Stop your car as soon as possible

2. Turn the key to the off position

3. Switch off all accessories and electrical equipment like headlights and the radio

4. Open up your battery bay and remove the battery from its housing

5. Find out what the problem is with the alternator

6. Park your car in a safe place

7. Take the battery back to a repair shop to have the alternator fixed

8. Add a portable battery charger to your car before going out.

How to replace a car battery
How to replace a car battery (By Istockphoto)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will a car battery last while driving?

If your car battery dies while driving, the consequences can be serious. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, as well as the severity of the battery failure, you may lose power steering, brakes, and even engine power. In some cases, a dead battery can cause your car to stall completely. If this happens in traffic or on a busy road, you and other motorists could be at risk for a serious accident.

How can I prevent my car battery from dying while driving?

There are a few things you can do to help prevent your car battery from dying while driving:

-Get your battery tested regularly. Many auto parts stores offer free battery testing.

-Drive regularly. If you let your car sit for long periods of time, the battery will slowly drain.

-Keep an eye on the battery gauge. If it starts to drop into the red zone, get your vehicle to a service station as soon as possible.

Can a car battery die suddenly?

Yes, a car battery can die suddenly. If it does, it is usually due to a faulty alternator or another electrical problem. If your battery dies suddenly, you should take your car to a mechanic to have it checked out as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Always carry jumper cables in your car. It doesn’t cost much to buy a set of jumper cables, but it might just be the thing that saves your car, and your wallet, if something happens. Also, make sure you check your battery and recharge it, if needed, before the winter starts. What about when you’re stuck in a parking lot? If your battery is dead, and you need to get out of there, and you have jumper cables in your vehicle, you can do what is called a Jump to Start. Because a Jump to Start system is powered by the mechanical energy of the engine, it can be not quite, but it can be very helpful if you’re stuck with a dead battery. It’s also worth noting that if you use jumper cables incorrectly you can injure yourself or your car, so it’s important to never drive off until you check your battery! For more advanced cars with more complex wiring systems, you could also consider having a certified mechanic come to your home with a portable battery charger.