Dead battery or just drained? What we check on site
By Stevan
Owner of Axl Roadside
Serving
Mountain View and nearby cities
Updated
A battery that is completely dead is not necessarily a bad battery. When we arrive, we inspect the battery first, then try a jump start and watch how the vehicle responds. How it starts gives us important clues about the battery and the vehicle’s electrical system.
What do you check before jumping the car?
The battery itself. How old it is, what condition it’s in, and whether there’s visible damage or wear. Then we attempt the jump.
How do you tell a drained battery from a bad one?
The way the vehicle behaves when we jump it can give us important clues about the battery and the rest of the electrical system. A healthy battery that has simply been drained will, in many cases, respond normally, and the vehicle starts.
If it doesn’t start, or the battery shows signs of failure, that’s when we work out whether it needs replacing.
Can a good battery go completely dead?
Yes, and we see it regularly. Good batteries get drained by:
- a faulty alternator
- an electrical problem
- lights left on
- another issue that kept the battery from charging properly
What happens if the battery really has failed?
We can replace the battery on site with the recommended matching battery. The service call covers the visit and the diagnosis. Additional charges apply when a new battery is needed.
Which vehicles do you help with?
Passenger cars and SUVs, and also commercial vehicles and semi-trucks. We also service EVs when they require appropriate roadside assistance.
What should I have ready when I call?
- Your name
- Where you are, or the service address
- The year, make and model of the vehicle
- A short description of what’s happening
That’s it. We come to you and assess the vehicle on site.
Axl Roadside provides mobile jump starts and battery service in Mountain View and nearby cities.
[…] jump start is not a repair and it is not a battery test. A battery that is completely drained is not necessarily a bad battery. Lights left on, a charging problem or an electrical fault can drain a good one. That is why, when […]