If you have ever been in a situation where your vehicle won’t start when you turn the ignition or push the start button, you probably assumed it was the battery. When your vehicle won’t start, it can be for various reasons. The most common reasons may include your vehicle battery, the starter, or the alternator. In this month’s blog, we look at each of these components and the role they play in your vehicle’s electrical system.
The Battery
Your vehicle’s battery is a critical part of the electrical system that provides an electrical current to your vehicle’s starter. The battery not only provides the electrical current to your starter, but it protects the onboard computer systems from different types of power surges.
The lifespan of a vehicle battery is about five years, but some batteries may sometimes last longer, and others may need to be replaced sooner. A lot of your battery life depends on where you live. For example, if you live in a coastal town that is susceptible to frequent humidity and salt air, you may find that your battery wears down faster.
Your battery lifespan is also dependent on how well maintained the battery is over time. Simple maintenance for a battery is about keeping the connections clean of corrosion and ensuring that your battery cables are well connected.
When your vehicle fails to start, the first consideration given should be the battery. Contact a roadside service or get the assistance of someone who can provide you with jumper cables and a diagnostic check of your battery’s charge. Make sure to follow all instructions on how to connect and remove the cables. Once you have run the vehicle for a period with the cables connected, you should be good to go. Sometimes a battery may just need a boost from the other battery to increase its charge. However, if you turn the ignition off and cannot start the vehicle again, it may mean you need to replace the battery. Most roadside services carry batteries with them so they can do an immediate replacement, if it is determined that the battery is dead.
The Starter
Your vehicle’s starter is a type of motor that when activated by the electrical current from the battery, engages with the pinion gear and flywheel to initiate cranking to get the combustion process within the engine started. Typically, if there is a problem with your starter you may just hear a clicking sound when turning the key or pushing the ignition. Or you may not hear anything. This could also be a sign of the battery failure, but if you ruled that out then it may be the starter.
Because your vehicle’s starter is a motor, it can fail over time due to dirt, wear, or tear. The two more common problems within the starter are when the motor itself burns out, or the solenoid has failed, which is responsible for sending the electrical signal to the motor. The starter can also develop issues with the gears that connect to the flywheel, and so it will not be able to engage the flywheel to start the ignition process. You may notice that your starting success rate is sporadic, and that could be the result of a gear issue and the starter.
One obvious sign of a problem starter is if your dashboard lights dim when you are starting the vehicle. With any of these signs, it is important to have your vehicle inspected by a service professional before problems result in further damage to your engine.
The Alternator
The alternator is part of the vehicle charging system. The alternator is responsible for powering your vehicle’s electrical components such as the interior/exterior lights, the radio, etc. , and it also charges your vehicle’s battery during operation by producing AC current. It is produced by converting the mechanical energy (driven by a serpentine belt) of the alternator into electrical energy to recharge your battery.
For the most part, an alternator can last many years. There are times when it may be impacted by other issues, such as loose belts, or faulty wiring or fuses. When you experience a problem with the alternator, a dashboard “battery” light may be lit. This may or may not indicate a problem with the starter. For the most part, this warning light is indicating a problem somewhere within the vehicle electrical system. A failed alternator may also cause your dashboard lights to dim when the vehicle is in idle, but then grow brighter when you rev the engine.
The Modern Charging Systems
Today’s vehicles are very different from the ones our parents drove, and for the better!
Modern vehicles now recharge the battery during deceleration or trailing throttle which takes advantage of the “free part of the ride”. By recovering this kinetic energy, less fuel is consumed, and it reduces pollutants. A side benefit is this slower charge model helps improve the battery life since charging aggressively builds heat inside the battery.
Having electrical and ignition issues with your vehicle is never fun. If you have ruled out a battery problem, you should have your vehicle inspected by a service professional as soon as possible. If you have concerns about your vehicle starting, contact the professionals at Shade Tree Garage to set up an appointment. We will inspect your vehicle and provide you with any recommendations for repair or replacement.