A battery is not designed to last forever. With proper
care, however, the battery will provide years of good service. If the battery
tests good but still fails to perform well, the following are some
of the more common causes:
- A vehicle accessory was left on overnight.
- The driving speeds have been slow with frequent stops (stop-and-go
driving) with many electrical accessories in use, particularly air conditioning,
headlights, wipers, heated rear window, cellular telephone, etc.
- The electrical load has exceeded the generator output (particularly
with the addition of aftermarket equipment).
- Existing conditions in the charging system, including the following
possibilities.
- The battery has not been properly maintained, including a loose
battery hold down or missing battery insulator if used.
- There are mechanical conditions in the electrical system, such
as a short or a pinched wire, attributing to power failure. Refer toGeneral Electrical Diagnosis Procedures
in Wiring Systems.