We know the frustration of getting into your vehicle and discovering that the you’ve got a dead battery. You’re in a hurry and discover that your headlights are dim and the engine just won’t turn over. Call Charlotte Towing today for a quick jump start.

Your car’s battery is the energy source for sending power from the starter motor to the spark plugs. Spark plugs then ignite your fuel to fire up the engine. So if you have a weak or dead battery, well you guessed it, you’re not going anywhere.

Sometimes you can tell when your battery is beginning to die. You’ll notice that the car can be hard to start, headlights and dash lights will not be as bright, and your car’s alarm system will be weak.

From our experience these are the most common reasons for a dead or dying car battery.

1. Battery Drain

Some battery drain is normal, but other times components on your vehicle may not shut off properly. This is usually caused by faulty wiring or bad fuses. Mechanics call this a parasitic draw or parasitic drain and identifying the source of a drain is accomplished with an amp meter.

2. Faulty Alternator

Your car’s alternator is what recharges the battery during vehicle operation. While your driving around town, the alternator is supplying power back to the battery to keep it charged. If your alternator has a bad diode your battery will likely drain pretty quickly and leave you stranded. 

3. Expired Battery

Just like that milk you bought at Harris Teeter, batteries have an expiration date. Batteries that won’t hold a charge and are over 5 years old usually signal that your battery has gone to battery heaven. Proper maintenance and preventing your battery from going completely dead too often can extend its life. 

4. Loose or Corroded Cables

If your battery cables are loose or corroded they cannot transfer an electrical current properly. This is the easiest fix and just requires tightening the cable bolts or using a wire brush to clean away corrosion.

5. Last, but not least, Human Error

Yep, one of the most common and most embarrassing causes of a dead battery is human error. We’ve all done it so don’t be ashamed. Just remember to shut off cabin lights, makeup mirrors, and headlights.  

If you are outside of our service area we still try to accommodate because we know how difficult it can be when you need a towing service.

Contact us and our dispatcher can let you know if we can get to you in a timely manner. We don’t want you to waiting alone for a tow truck. If we can’t get to you we will recommend someone who can.

If you have an emergency please call 911 before calling Charlotte Tows for towing services.