When you’re driving in the winter, it’s tempting to leave the heat on and just keep your car running. After all, it’s going to spend most of its time parked outside anyway. If you do that, however, you risk something called “gel cell battery failure.” What this means is that the cold temperatures can cause your car battery to fail. When this happens, your car won’t start when you want it to. The good news is that there are some steps you can take to prevent this from happening. If you’re looking for information about how can a car battery die while driving, read on!
Can A Car Battery Die While Driving?
A car battery can die while you are driving, but if you know the signs and how to keep your car alive, then you will be able to drive without worrying about losing power. It is very important to know how to keep your car alive, especially if you are planning on driving for a long distance. If you lose power while driving, you could be in danger of an accident. Since the average driver drives over 100 miles per day, keeping your car running is the best way to ensure that you are safe on the road.
Why Do Car Batteries Die While Driving?
While most car batteries will die after a few weeks of sitting idle, it’s not uncommon for them to die while being driven. Here are 10 common reasons why this might happen.
- The alternator is failing. This can cause the battery to die as the alternator isn’t able to charge it up enough. If you’re having issues with your battery, you should get it checked out by a mechanic or auto shop as soon as possible.
- The battery is weak and doesn’t have enough power to keep the car running properly. This could be caused by a dead battery, an old one that’s been sitting for a long time without being charged, or a car that’s run on its alternator most of its life and not been driven much lately.
- The battery is too old and needs to be replaced – Even if your car has an automatic charger that keeps the battery topped off, it may still need a new one if it’s over five years old.
- The battery is too small and can’t supply enough power. This is most common in older cars that have smaller batteries.
- The alternator isn’t charging the battery enough. If the alternator isn’t charging the battery up fast enough, it can cause the battery to die quickly.
- Heat is getting into your car and causing the battery to die faster than normal – If you’re driving in a warm area and/or your car has been running for a long time with no breaks, this could be causing it to die faster than normal.
- A dead battery could be caused by something else – Even if your car doesn’t have any other problems, there might be something else causing your battery to die at a faster rate than usual such as an electrical problem or a computer malfunction that’s draining your battery more quickly than normal (you’ll know this if you see that your dashboard lights are dimming).
- The alternator is failing. If the alternator isn’t charging the battery up quickly, this could be causing it to die faster than normal.
- The battery is getting old and needs to be replaced – Even if your car has an automatic charger that keeps the battery topped off, it may still need a new one if it’s over five years old.
- The alternator isn’t charging the battery fast enough – If your car has an automatic charger that keeps the battery topped off, but you’re seeing problems with your car’s performance, this could be causing your car to have issues with dying quickly while being driven.
What Is A Gel Cell Battery?
A gel cell battery is a type of car battery designed for extreme temperatures. Gel cells do a better job of retaining their charge in cold temperatures than regular car batteries. Because of this, they are often used in vehicles that are frequently exposed to cold temperatures, such as trucks, tractors, and boats. Gel batteries are more expensive than regular car batteries, but the added expense may be worth it for those who live in cold climates or drive in temperatures that regularly fall below freezing.
What Causes Gel Cell Failure?
Here are some of the most common causes of gel cell failure:
- Overcharging. Gel cell batteries can overcharge, causing them to fail prematurely. This is usually caused by a high voltage. If you have a high amp charger, use it with extreme caution.
- Extreme temperatures. Gel cell batteries should never be exposed to temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 Celsius). Extremely cold spells can damage your battery and shorten its lifespan.
- Excessive charging cycles and/or overcharging and discharging cycles (called “deep cycling”). This is one of the most common causes of gel cell battery failure, especially if the battery has been overcharged or discharged without being fully charged first. You should only charge your car battery until it is half full and then let it sit for at least 24 hours before using it again to avoid damaging your gel cells and shortening their lifespan.
- Excessive drain on the battery (usually caused by poor alternator output). If your alternator does not provide enough power to charge your battery, it can cause an excessive drain on your battery, which will eventually damage it.
- Heavy use. Gel cell batteries are designed to be used in extreme conditions and should not be used in high-drain situations (like a car that is frequently idling or running at highway speeds). If you use your car all the time and go on long trips, you may want to consider replacing the battery with another type of battery that is more suited for such use.
Conclusion
A car battery is an important part of your vehicle’s engine. If your battery dies, you won’t be able to start your car. While this can happen for a variety of reasons, one of the most common ways a car battery dies is due to an issue known as “gel cell failure.” If you’re driving in cold weather and notice that your car isn’t cranking as quickly as it usually does, it could be a sign that your car battery is failing. To reduce your risk of a battery failure, be sure to keep your car battery warm and clean.
