Q: Battery completely died out twice
Hello. A couple of years ago, my car had a battery issue. It was completely drained. Due to this, the positive battery cable has a lot of corrosion surrounding it. I went to the dealership and they had the engine wiring harness replaced. However, that problem occurred yet again and they don't know the cause of it. The car has 85,000 miles on it. What could be the issue here? Should I just have the positive battery cable replaced as suggested? Thank you.
Recommended Services
| Service Battery/cables | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
The battery is leaking out of the top near the posts and will cause the terminals to get corroded. I suggest having your battery and cables serviced:
- have the cables cleaned of corrosion
- have the battery replaced
- have the red and green acid-reducing discs put under the terminals
The discs will control the buildup of any corrosion for a longer time than not using anything. You should have the battery serviced and cleaned once a year.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Leaking coolant and poor gas mileage.
Some key things to check to ensure your vehicle gets correct gas mileage would be your air filter, fuel filter, quality of fuel, and oxygen sensor integrity. A dirty air filter will suffocate your engine causing bad gas mileage. Dirty...
How do I erase the personal entry codes?
All the personal entry codes can be erased quickly, by following these steps: 1. Enter the factory set entry code, which is located on the owner’s wallet card. 2. Within five seconds, press and release the 1-2 button. 3. Within...
Should I get the piston rings replaced or just swap the entire engine?
First off, if it isn't smoking (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/smoke-from-engine-or-exhaust-inspection), it probably isn't burning all that oil. A quart a week is four quarts a month and about 1000-2000 miles. That's a lot of oil. It is most likely a combination of leaking...
Does my 2012 Ford Escape have a heater control valve?
Hi there, thank you for asking about your 2012 Ford Escape. To answer your question, no, your vehicle does not have a heater control valve. Hot coolant will continually move through the heater core as long as the engine is...
Broken hub bearing
You are absolutely correct. If the vehicle even gets raised up off of the ground the front wheels should be shaken down to see if any play exists. This is especially true if the tires were being replaced. There is...
How to repair the P2238 trouble code in my car
Hi there. This P2238 code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p2238-obd-ii-trouble-code-o2-sensor-positive-current-control-circuit-low-bank-1-sensor-1-by-jay-safford) is set when the engine computer detects a short circuit on the heater for the 02 or AF sensor.The short is generally in the sensor itself and replacement corrects the condition. However, there could...
Starts but wont move or rev up after replacing battery 2005 Ford Explorer
Hi there - your symptoms suggest a problem with the throttle position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/car-hesitation-when-taking-off-at-a-light-by-gloria-l). Check for problem codes - whether the Check Engine light is on or not - I would expect some indication of a problem here. Changing the...
Truck isn't engaging into 4 Hi, but will go into 4 Low.
Hi there. Sounds like the shifter module motor or shifter rail is not working properly. Check the wiring on the shifter module motor on the transfer case and see if the wires are split or damaged. If the wires are...
No start, no crank
Check to see if there are any stored diagnostic trouble codes. Be sure you have a fully, 100% charged battery that passes a load test (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-is-dead-inspection). Confirm that the engine immobilizer system (security system) is not activated thus preventing the...
Related articles
4 Essential Things to Know About Your Car’s Interior Lights
Most Most vehicles have interior lights that are also called dome lights or courtesy lights. These can be located on the ceiling of the vehicle and illuminate when people enter or exit the car. The lighting normally stays lit until...
How to Dispose of Car Batteries
Car batteries have chemicals which can damage the environment. Dispose of car batteries at a battery recycling center or a local auto supply store.
How to Check Electrolyte Levels in Your Battery
Part Part of what makes a modern battery work so effectively is the ‘wet cell’ design they utilize. In a wet cell battery, there is a mixture of sulfuric acid and distilled water (called electrolyte) that connects all of the...
Browse other content
Maintenance
Estimates