What Happens If The Car Battery Dies While Driving?

There’s nothing quite as heart-thumping as when your car starts giving you trouble while you’re driving. A little trouble is okay but what if your car battery died while driving? 

By ‘car battery dies,’ we mean to say that the battery discharges beyond the point where it’s got adequate power to run the car. 

The list of issues that can happen to drain your battery is never-ending. Some of the most common reasons include faulty alternator diodes, charging problems, persistent electrical drains, loose or corroded battery connections, and even extreme weather.

 Let’s explore now what exactly happens when your car battery dies while driving.

Issues Faced When your Car Battery Died while Driving

Even if you purchase the best car batteries on the market, there is still the chance that your car batteries die. This is because of a variety of different reasons. Some of these can be dealt with easily while others may require a visit to the mechanic.

But, what if the battery dies while driving because of the faulty alternator? Things may get progressively poorer until you slowly stop on the side of the road. You might notice that the lights are dimmed and the fan for the cabin ventilation runs slower.

Moreover, when your car battery dies while driving, you don’t have enough power to run the spark plugs, or injectors as the parasitic load from the electrical system drains it further.

Finally, the car will stop running right and all the lights on the dash will start blinking. This is when you’ll stop your car on the side of the road and ask for help.

Well, the batteries don’t just die at once, they get sick initially, and then sicker and sicker. But, most people don’t notice the signs. Slowly and steadily, the car turns slower when starting, or the headlights dim more when sitting at a light. 

You must know that a car even dies with a progressively weakening battery and a healthy alternator. This usually happens when the dying car batteries produce a huge load on the alternator thereby trashing it.

     SEE MORE:

• 6 Causes That Drains Away Your Car Battery
• What is a car battery trickle charger?

What To Do When Your Car Battery Died while Driving

So what happens if your battery dies while driving? Here’s what you can do if your car battery died while driving situation:

Restart Your Car

The best thing you can do in such situations is to restart your car. First, take out the key from the ignition, give your car a few seconds of rest, and start it. If your car gets started, it’s great but if not, you need to head to a repair shop to get the problem fixed.

Try To Jump Start Your Car

If it doesn’t restart, you might need to take a fast leap to come home. Plug in your portable auto jumper and begin trickle charging your battery.

This charge will not last long because the alternator is dead. The aim is that you’ll have enough to get home safely and then continue on from there.

If you’re still a significant distance from home, ask for people who wouldn’t bother helping to  jump start your car. Because a dead alternator will not replenish your battery, you can only use the amount of energy created by the jump.

Try To Call For Help

Most people don’t prepare much for this situation, you always need to remember this question in mind: Can a car battery die while driving? And then you will have a specific step to solve this problem for yourself.

First, take a deep breath and don’t panic. Driving with a dead battery is risky. Maintain your calm and proceed with prudence at all times.  Then, try to get help from someone who can tow your car to a repair shop.

Furthermore, you can call for roadside help. A specialist from a repair company is always accessible to assist you. Sometimes expert advice on automotive maintenance is available.

However, keep in mind that you must discover a solution to the problem as soon as possible. 

Make Your Emergency Flashers On

Don’t forget to turn on your emergency flashers as your safety is the most important thing. Let other drivers give you and your vehicle some space by putting on your emergency flashers.

FAQs on Car Battery Dying

1. When should you replace the battery in your car?

It is critical to understand whether a car battery needs to be changed. Don’t wait until the battery runs out of power. If your car’s battery dies, you may replace it.

2. How do you know if your vehicle’s battery is too old?

All automobile batteries have a specified lifetime. However, there may be differences between particular units.

Read the imprinted code or glance at the label to establish the age of a battery. The date it left the factory might potentially be the date the code was produced.

3. How long do most automotive batteries last?

Between three and four years

Some automobiles’ batteries can last up to five or six years, while others need to be replaced after only two years.

In general, your car’s battery should be replaced every three to four years. Routine maintenance also includes replacing your automobile battery.

4. What is the fastest way to drain a car battery?

Increasing the heat or air conditioning while driving consumes more energy from the battery. Controlling the interior and battery temperature consumes the most electricity, second only to operating the car.

Electric vehicles, unlike ICE vehicles, cannot draw heat from the engine to warm the interior.

Check out this video from Nathans BMW Workshop to learn more about the most common battery drain causes and fix for all cars!

5. What would deplete a vehicle battery in 3 days?

Stereo components (subwoofers), phone chargers, and anything else you leave connected into vehicle outlets that continue to take power from the battery after the car is switched off might deplete your car battery over time. 

Interior and below-vehicle LED lighting are also power drains. Connections that are loose or rusted.

So, your car battery died while driving due to many different reasons. It’s important to get it checked either by yourself or by a quality service shop.

You can chase some maintenance tips given by car experts to deal with that situation with ease!