Mobile roadside assistance Perth can be particularly useful when a vehicle suddenly refuses to start and the cause isn’t immediately obvious. CMM Automotive recently attended a Hyundai in Brookdale after the owner discovered the vehicle would not start.
At first, the problem appeared to be a straightforward flat battery. However, finding out why a battery has gone flat can be just as important as getting the vehicle started again.
Hyundai Wouldn’t Start in Brookdale
When the owner attempted to start the Hyundai, the battery did not have enough power to crank the engine normally.
There are many reasons why this can happen. The battery itself may be reaching the end of its life, the charging system may have a problem or an electrical component may have continued drawing power while the vehicle was parked.
Rather than simply assuming the battery had failed, we checked the vehicle to determine what had caused the loss of battery power.
Sunvisor Interior Light Left On
During our inspection, we found the cause of the problem.
The interior light built into the Hyundai’s sunvisor had been accidentally left on.
Although an interior light uses considerably less electricity than many other vehicle components, it can continue drawing power for hours while the engine is switched off.
Given enough time, that electrical load can discharge the battery until there is no longer sufficient power available to start the engine.
In this case, the small sunvisor light had been enough to leave the Hyundai unable to start.
Why Can a Small Interior Light Flatten a Car Battery?
A vehicle battery has a limited amount of stored electrical energy.
While the engine is running, the alternator supplies electrical power and recharges the battery. Once the engine is switched off, anything left operating must draw its power directly from the battery.
Interior lights, boot lights and other electrical accessories may appear insignificant. However, if one remains on for an extended period, it can gradually discharge the battery.
The problem can become more noticeable if the battery is older or already has reduced capacity.This is the type of simple fault that mobile roadside assistance Perth can identify quickly at the vehicle’s location.
Getting the Hyundai Started Again
Once we identified the cause of the discharged battery, CMM Automotive got the Hyundai started again.
This Brookdale callout demonstrates why roadside assistance in Perth can involve more than simply connecting a jump starter.
Finding the reason behind a flat battery can help prevent the owner from experiencing exactly the same problem the following day.
In this case, the cause was simple: the owner had accidentally left the Hyundai’s sunvisor interior light on.
Other Causes of a Flat Car Battery
Leaving an interior light on is only one possible reason for a vehicle battery to become discharged.
Other common causes can include:
- an ageing or failing battery
- headlights or parking lights left on
- a boot or glovebox light remaining illuminated
- charging system problems
- electrical accessories drawing power
- leaving the vehicle unused for an extended period
If a battery repeatedly goes flat, CMM Automotive can carry out further testing to identify the cause. We can check the battery, charging system and other electrical components for possible faults.
Roadside Assistance for a Car That Won’t Start
A vehicle that won’t start can quickly disrupt your day, especially when you’re away from home or need the car for work.
CMM Automotive provides mobile roadside assistance Perth services for a range of vehicle problems. Learn more about our [roadside assistance services] here.
Our mobile service allows us to come directly to the vehicle and investigate the problem at its location.
For customers requiring breakdown assistance in Perth, diagnosing the cause can be particularly valuable. Getting a vehicle running again is important, but understanding why it stopped or wouldn’t start can reduce the chance of another breakdown.
Need Mobile Roadside Assistance in Perth?
If your vehicle won’t start or has developed an unexpected problem, CMM Automotive can come directly to your location and investigate the cause.
Our mobile roadside service assists customers throughout Perth with starting problems, battery faults and many other roadside vehicle issues.
For professional mobile roadside assistance in Perth, contact CMM Automotive on 1800 888 990.
