The Most Common Causes of a Car Breakdown and How to Avoid It

Let’s imagine a scenario – you are driving back to your home, late at night, after a long day at work. The road is clear and the only thing you want is to reach home as soon as possible and sleep. But, suddenly your car breaks down and you are stuck on a deserted road, annoyed and irritated, wondering what to do now.
Car breakdowns are one of those issues that seem to have a knack of arising when you least expect them. While you can call for roadside assistance whenever you encounter a roadside emergency, there are certain situations you can avoid by educating yourself on their causes and taking measures to counter or prevent them.
Although car breakdowns take most of us by surprise, they often do not come without warning. Hence, they can be avoided, in many cases if not always, by learning about the issues that can get you in trouble on the road and their warning signs.
While many issues can cause your car to stop working, battery problems are among the most common causes of vehicle breakdowns. Here is what you need to know to prevent the problem:
Battery Issues – The Leading Cause of Car Breakdowns
Low or dead batteries are the leading reason why people call vehicle towing services. There can be many underlying causes of a faulty or flat battery, such as poor electrical connections, leaving the car light on for an extended period of time, problems in different parts of the vehicle, harsh weather conditions, not using the vehicle for a while, and regular wear and tear with usage.
How to Avoid Battery Problems​
To prevent being stuck on the road because of a dead battery, make sure to:

• Regularly check the battery terminals to ensure they are tight and not corroding. To prevent corrosion, you can use grease, petroleum jelly, or a battery terminal protector spray.
• Once in a while, check the alternator belt and make sure it has the required tension.
• Make sure to turn off the lights, AC, heater, rear defroster, or any other electrical equipment before starting the engine. Also, make sure all the lights are off before you get off the car.
• Regularly check the water level in the battery.
• Do not leave your car unused for an extended period of time. If you are going out of town for a long time, ask a family member or a friend to take a drive in your car every now and then.
• Making too many short trips is also one of the reasons that can cause your car battery to drain quickly. If making lots of short trips is part of your routine and you cannot avoid them, try to charge your car’s battery after every two weeks, for overnight.
• Make sure the top of the battery is always clean and dry.
• Watch out for the warning signs of battery failure, such as dimming cabin lights and headlights, slow starting or trouble starting the car on the first try, and advanced features taking longer than usual, such as power windows taking longer to open or close.
• Keep an eye on the battery light on your car’s dashboard to get notified of the low charging or a malfunction in the battery.

While the average life of a car’s battery is 3 to 5 years, there are a variety of factors that can have an impact on a vehicle’s battery and reduce its lifespan. While you should get your car checked by a professional auto mechanic when you notice any sign of battery problem, it is recommended to get your battery inspected at least once a year, to identify and treat any lingering issues to prevent getting trapped on the road due to a broken down car.
To be on the safe side, make sure to have the number of a reliable roadside assistance service who you can call in case of any roadside emergency. For roadside assistance or vehicle towing in Tempe, AZ, you can call KRJ Towing any day, any time; we are available 24/7 to rescue you.
Summary
While many issues can cause your car to stop working, battery problems are among the most common causes of vehicle breakdowns. The article presents all the necessary information that you need to know to prevent car breakdowns due to a faulty or failed battery.