If you’re like most drivers, you probably don’t give much thought to your car’s battery. But if your car’s battery is about to die, you should definitely start worrying. Car batteries are responsible for starting your car and powering all the electronics inside. If your battery dies, your car won’t start. And if your car doesn’t start, that could mean a lot of problems.
Here’s a quick look at what could happen if your car battery dies while you’re driving:
Your car might not start at all. In this case, you’ll likely have to call a tow truck or take your vehicle to a mechanic.
If your car does start, it might not go very far. With no power going to the engine, the car will probably only be able to make it a few blocks before it shuts down again.
If your car does go a few blocks, the brakes might not work properly. And if you hit something while your car is stopped, you could end up in serious trouble.
What is a Check Engine Light?
If you have a problem with your car and the Check Engine Light comes on, it means that there is an issue with your car’s engine. This can be anything from a small problem to something much more serious.
Most of the time, when the Check Engine Light comes on, you can just drive to a mechanic and they will take a look at it and tell you what needs to be fixed. But sometimes there are things that can be done to fix the issue without taking your car in for repair.
One example of this is if your car’s battery is dying. When a battery is dying, it doesn’t have enough juice to start your car. But even if your battery isn’t the root of the problem, sometimes fixing things like loose spark plugs or dirty air filters can fix the issue without taking your car in for repair.
How Does a Car Battery Affect the Check Engine Light?
If you have a car with a battery, there’s a good chance that the battery will affect the check engine light in one way or another. The most common way is if the battery causes an electrical issue with the car’s computer system. This can cause the check engine light to come on and stay on. Other things that can cause the check engine light to turn on include faulty airbag sensors, ruptured fuel lines, and problems with the car’s ignition system.
How to Fix a Dead or Dying Car Battery
If your car battery is dead or dying, you may be able to fix the problem by following these steps:
1. Charge the battery as recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
2. If your car has a jumper cable, connect one end of the cable to the positive battery post and the other end to the negative battery post. The car should start. If it does not, try starting the car with the key only and then switch to the battery once it starts.
3. If your car does not have a jumper cable, you can try using a manual crank start. Have someone turn the ignition key all the way to the off position and then turn it back on while holding down the gas pedal and pressing the clutch pedal at the same time. Once started, let go of all three pedals and switch off the engine by pressing down on the gas pedal and turning off the ignition key.
4. If neither of these methods work, you will need to replace your car’s battery.
Conclusion
If you’re having trouble starting your car, and the check engine light comes on, it’s likely because of a dead battery. The problem is that even if the battery is replaced and you’ve had the car checked out by a mechanic, the code may still be set for a dead battery. If this happens, your car will need to be towed to an auto body shop so that they can reset the ECM ( Engine Control Module) and clear any pending codes. In some cases, this might require replacing other components in the engine.