
This overcharge is usually caused by the charging system of the car, or an unregulated alternator. Car batteries are designed so that if the battery becomes slightly overcharged the hydrogen can escape through tiny vents in each of the six cells however, if the battery is severely overcharged, it has the potential to explode with the smallest spark. Depending on how overcharged the battery is, will determine the damage that can be done to the battery. When a battery is overcharged, the electrolysis of water inside the battery will produce hydrogen. This is generally the result of overcharging your battery. There are also cases when car battery voltage can become too high. When a battery sits for long periods of time (generally a year or more) sulfation occurs which causes the battery to lose its charge internally. Another common cause of low voltage is due to prolonged time in a state where the battery isn’t being used. Additionally, the battery case can become damaged or cracked, along with the terminals. There is also the possibility that corrosion within the battery can interfere with connections. The separators between the cells within the battery can fail between positive and negative walls.

Some reasons aren’t directly due to irresponsibility of the vehicle owner, for instance, there may be a short in the battery. Some more common low voltage readings can come from leaving lights on after the car is shut off, leaving the glove box open with the lights on or having the doors opened for prolonged lengths of time.

If your battery is between 4 and 5 years old, its ability to hold a charge will decrease drastically, even if you attempt to recharge it. There are several reasons your car battery voltage can be too low. For instance, a deficiency of six tenths of a volt can lead to a power loss of up to 75%. If your car battery voltage is discharged, or has less than 12.4 volts, the power decreases dramatically.

Each battery is complete with 6 separate cells that each contains 2.1 volts, for a total of 12.6 volts. A fully charged car battery voltage for a vehicle that isn’t running should fall between 12.4 volts and 12.6 volts. In areas where the temperatures are much higher, like in southern California, Texas, Arizona and Florida, the lifespan of your battery can be as low as three years. However, depending on the climate where you live, it can be even shorter. A car battery life expectancy can range from between four and five years before it will no longer hold a charge. With a couple of inexpensive tools and less than an hour of your time you can determine if you need to purchase a new battery by testing your car battery yourself.Ī car battery voltage test can be used to determine whether or not your batter has reached the end of its life expectancy. There are several reasons your car battery voltage may be too low, or in some cases even too high. Although you may find yourself wanting to toss your car battery to the side of the road because your car won’t start and you’re late for work, a dead car battery doesn’t always need to be replaced.
