Why Keeping Battery Terminals and Cables in Good Shape Is Important
Vehicles are complicated machines. Many of the latest models have several advanced features and technology built into them. Even less advanced models from a few decades ago feature a great deal of innovation and engineering. Whether you’re driving a vehicle from the 1970s or ’80s or one that just rolled off of the assembly line a few months ago, keeping it up and running requires ongoing maintenance and, at times, extensive repairs.
No matter what type of vehicle you drive, the battery is one of its most crucial components. Besides the inner workings of the battery itself, the cables and terminals can affect how well the battery does its job. Those parts can get worn out, damaged, or corroded over time, and when they do, they may keep your vehicle from working properly. Professional auto repair in Houston, TX can reverse those issues or even prevent them altogether. Take a look at some of the problems corroded or damaged battery terminals and cables can cause.
Keeping Your Vehicle from Starting
For one, if there are problems with your battery terminals or cables, your vehicle may be slow to start, or it may not start at all. The cables need to make good connections with the battery to draw power from it to start the vehicle. Otherwise, they won’t be able to pull the voltage they need to get the vehicle started. Cleaning the terminals and cable ends or possibly replacing the cables can solve that problem. If your vehicle hesitates, clicks, or does nothing at all when you try to start it, that may be a sign that corrosion or damage is affecting the battery connection.
Unexpected Stalling
Your vehicle may also unexpectedly stall if it’s not getting a good battery connection. It may start up properly, but a poor battery connection could cause problems after the fact. Once the battery starts your vehicle, the alternator keeps it running. Along the way, it continues to simultaneously draw power from the battery and send power back to it to recharge it. If the cables aren’t making a good connection with the battery, the alternator may not be able to draw power from the battery or keep it charged. That could cause your vehicle to simply shut off while you’re driving.
Other Electrical Issues
Besides those major problems, bad battery connections could lead to other electrical issues. Damaged or corroded terminals or cables can keep your radio, onboard GPS, and power windows and seats from working properly. Those may seem like minor inconveniences, but they’re not the only issues that could arise. Your headlights and taillights may not work well if you have a bad battery connection. They may get dimmer than usual, flicker, or not work at all. If any of those problems crops up, even more serious issues are likely to follow.
Keeping Your Battery Terminals and Cables in Good Condition
Those are some of the main problems that may develop if your vehicle’s battery terminals or cables aren’t making good connections. In many cases, corrosion or damage is to blame. Professional mechanics can take care of corrosion and damaged cables during routine maintenance to keep those resulting problems from happening. If they do arise, though, professional intervention is the key to reversing the damage and preventing more serious issues moving forward.
