Your car's 12-volt battery is one of its most vital components. It's responsible for sending electricity to the starter motor, which, in turn, sends power to the ignition system and cranks the engine.

The modern automobile is an amazing piece of technology that most of us rely on every day for our transportation needs but often take for granted. Of course, when it won't start our lives are ...

There’s a lot to consider when buying an electric vehicle: Which models are best? How much range is enough? How does charging work? Along with these variables, maintenance costs are another facet of ...

If you’re here, you’re probably part of one of two camps: Either (A), you need to store your car over the winter without the battery going flat, or (B), you need to store your car for even longer than ...

️ Editor's note: This article was updated with new information in December 2025. Dead batteries are a predictable reality for any car that spends more time parked than driven. Battery discharge does ...

The Car Doctor recommends using a jump-pack as a memory saver when changing a car battery instead of a battery charger. A weak key fob battery can cause issues with restarting a car but should not ...

You try to turn on your car, and it just won’t start. Maybe the dashboard doesn’t even light up. A likely cause: The 12-volt battery is dead. All cars lose a little battery power when parked. If you ...

There's no greater disappointment then getting ready for a night on the town, or packing up your car for a nice trip, and your car battery is dead. Next comes the question: is my car battery at the ...

No one is enthused to find out their car battery died. But just because you left the headlights on overnight doesn’t mean it’s time for a replacement. These days, it doesn’t take a trained mechanic to ...

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...

Most drivers expect their car to start without hesitation, but the battery behind that reliability does not last forever. On average, a standard car battery lasts about three to five years, while ...