PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
How do I fix a car battery that won't hold a charge?
I need to jump my car every time I want to turn it on. I’d rather not replace the battery if I don’t have to. Is there a way to fix a battery that won’t hold a charge?
Nick Kunze · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Batteries are not designed to last forever, and yours may simply be at the end of its life. That said, there are a couple of things to try to fix a battery that won’t hold a charge.
First, establish if the battery is salvageable. If you own a load tester, connect it to your battery. If the battery drops below 12 volts, it needs to be replaced.
The culprit may also be a faulty alternator. You can diagnose this by running the headlights—if their brightness slowly decreases, you have an alternator issue. This can spell larger car trouble, so you should get your alternator checked out by a mechanic.
A defective fuse can also be to blame. If you can identify the problem fuse and replace it, your battery could be back in action. This is a much cheaper fix than replacing the battery.
If the battery is at a functional voltage and these other issues aren’t to blame, you should try to
refill the car battery
.Car batteries aren’t the only part of your car that sometimes needs to be replaced—it might be time to update your insurance policy! Insurance broker
Jerry
makes it easy to find better coverage at a lower price. A quick, free sign-up gives you access to personalized quotes from more than 50 top providers, including Nationwide and Travelers.View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies