Batteries have an incongruent behavior that’s very unique to them. Turning chemical energy to electrical energy is a very critical chemical procedure. The temperature can really mess things up. And as always the balance in a chemical reaction will change due to heat.
The humidity and temperature of the surroundings have to be within the specified range or things will go south. Apart from being ineffective, there are many other dangers that a heated up battery can do. The worst-case scenario is the battery blowing up and creating a fire hazard.
What Causes a Car Battery to Overheat
Amongst the phenomena that catalyze a battery to heat up, ones high up the ladder in statistics are discussed below.
Short Circuit
Short-circuit can occur in a battery externally or internally. External short-circuit occurs when the battery is stored in the touch of any metallic instrument. If the battery comes in contact with a metallic instrument, it can make a connection between positive and negative poles. Because of this external short circuit, unnecessary heat will be produced.
An internal short circuit causes shock. Batteries shouldn’t be stored in any shock susceptible area. Incorrect insertion of batteries in the box or misshaped terminals can create powerful shocks. This can disturb the charging system and an excessive amount of heat will be produced in the battery.
Cooling System
If the cooling system of the engine doesn’t work properly, it can cause a car battery to overheat. There can be several reasons for the malfunction of the cooling system. Any leakage, blockings, or interruption in the pump can cause a disturbance in the cooling process. As a result, the temperature will rise rapidly.
Malfunction of Motor
Cooling fans are mostly operated by motors. So, the proper amount of airflow can be interrupted if there is a problem in the motor. As they are electronic motors so any error in wiring or mechanical malfunction in the motor can cause problems to start the fan or change the airflow level.
Dull Battery
Ill-timed charging is one of the reasons for overheating the car battery. The dull battery will need continuous charging. This uninterrupted charging will create heat in the battery. Sometimes failing the charging process causes only unnecessary heat.
Defective Alternator
A defective alternator can cause overcharging or it can totally stop the charging process. Faulty voltage regulation is the reason for these malfunctions. If the regulator stops to produce regulating voltage then the alternator won’t charge the battery.
By increasing the voltage regulation, it will start boiling the electrolytic mixture. This can cause the alternator to overcharge the battery or an outburst. Overcharging will lead to producing unnecessary heat. That will overheat the car battery. On the other side, it can cause several damages to all the elements.
Preventive Measures
Here are some of the top tips that will help you to overcome this challenge.
Weather and Parking Spot
During summer any car will get high temperature quickly and it will accelerate the overheating of the battery. Rather than continuous driving, taking some breaks will be a wise decision in this case.
Catching heat during parking can be solved by selecting the right parking spot. Try to park your car under any shade. It will keep your car cool and the environment inside the car will remain comfortable.
Proper Storage
Previously we have discussed the short circuit problem. To avoid this problem proper storage of a car battery is required. In the touch of any metallic instrument, an external short-circuit will have occurred. So, car batteries should be stored away from any metallic object. It will be better to store the batteries by covering them.
Packaging or any extra cover can be helpful in this case. Batteries can be stored in bags made of a material which remains inactive with metals. This will reduce the risk of an external short circuit. Correct insertion of battery in the battery box will protect the battery from an internal short-circuit. But terminals should be checked if they are okay or not.
Battery Condition
Analyzing car battery performance is important. After three to four years of use, most of the batteries become weak. At that condition, these batteries need more charging and can’t give the required performance. It’s better to remove the dull battery and get a new one.
By detecting some symptoms the condition of a car battery can be identified. Those are –
- An unpleasant smell will come from the hood.
- Starting the engine will be tough.
- Several electrical problems will be caused.
These symptoms will ensure that it’s the right time to change the car battery. Otherwise, it will affect other parts of the car.
Cooling System
Check the cooling level by the indicator. The low cooling level will cause quick overheating. Engine coolants are available in the market. Normally they are sold by 50% concentration. But you can change the concentration by mixing yourself. During the summer season, it’s important to check the level very often.
Use of Heater
The heater can be used to cool down the engine as well as battery. But it should be your last choice as it’s not effective in all situations. When you will turn the heater on it will absorb the heat from the compartment. So the temperature of the engine will start to reduce with time. This strategy is more effective in long drives
Conclusion
It’s normal for a car battery to catch heat during regular driving. But if the battery starts to overheat very often and with a little amount of use then it is a problem. But when you will face overheating problems check the battery first. To be sure about the battery condition its charging system should be verified.
In most cases changing the battery solves the problem. If it doesn’t then we have discussed some other solutions also. We have discussed some tips which should be followed from the initial stage of the battery. By following those you will be able to extend the battery life.
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