With winter weather coming, cars often suffer, the most general case is to have difficulties starting your GMC Terrain in the morning with very low temperatures. Generally this is associated with problems recharging the battery of your GMC Terrain . There are some factors that can explain why your battery does not recharge properly anymore, and today we will try to help you to resolve this problem that can prevent you from using your motor vehicle. To get this done, first we will explain how recharging your car battery works, then the different problems of recharging a GMC Terrain, and finally how to recharge an empty car battery.
How does recharging the battery of a GMC Terrain function?
Before we describe the different problems of recharging the battery on a GMC Terrain , we will explain to you how its recharging system works so that you can understand the problems you are struggling with. A motor vehicle battery works like a phone battery, it will store energy to start your GMC Terrain , turn on your headlights, listen to music, lower your power windows… However all these actions will consume energy and it may possibly deplete the energy reserve that your battery can store. To get over this problem, the engineers have developed a element called the alternator , this element will use the energy produced by the engine unit of your GMC Terrain to generate energy thanks to a copper coil and a magnet. This energy will recharge the battery of your motor vehicle . However, keep in mind that this process can only work when your motor vehicle is running, using electrical components of your motor vehicle when it is stopped will drain the energy reserve of your motor vehicle. It is considered that a battery of a xxx has a life span of 3 to 5 years.
Problems recharging a GMC Terrain’s battery
We will now describe the different battery charging problems on a GMC Terrain you might be victim of. If your battery is not recharging because there is necessarily a problem in your electrical installation, we will now see the different situations.
Battery charging problem on GMC Terrain: My battery is discharging regardless if I am recharging it with a particular charger
In this first circumstance, it is quite possible that your alternator is dead , obviously, if you manage to recharge your battery with a charger and your GMC Terrain to start, the problem most certainly comes from your alternator which should not be able to generate any more current.
Battery charging problem on GMC Terrain: My motor vehicle shuts off and does not start regardless if I have charged the battery
If you have recharged your battery and you have been able to start your GMC Terrain but it switches off while you are driving and then does not start, the problem with recharging the battery of your GMC Terrain is that your battery no longer holds the charge .
Battery charging problem on GMC Terrain: My battery is discharged although it is new
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If you’ve just bought a battery and it discharges while you’re driving, the problem most likely comes from your alternator. It cannot originate from your battery, which is new and consequently holds the charge. The second possibility is that you have a ground somewhere in your electrical system.
How to resolve the problem of battery charging on GMC Terrain?
We will now give you the solutions according to the problem you are struggling with. Here are the different problems and their solutions:
- Defective alternator: You can try with simple mechanics to verify it with a pressure gauge to see if it’s producing power. If it doesn’t, replacing it is the best solution, based on your motor you will pay a few hundred euros. This repair is feasible in the event that your alternator is accessible.
- Battery that no longer holds the charge: In such a case, the purchase of a new battery is the only realistic solution. In truth, if you have already recharged it but it is still empty because it is good to be changed, count between 60 and 100 euros based on your engine.
- Ground in the electrical circuit: If you cannot start your GMC Terrain but your alternator and battery are in good condition, it is possible that you have a ground on your wiring harness and that you lose energy, a verify by a motor vehicle electrician is in such a case required.
How to recharge an empty battery of a GMC Terrain
At last, to recharge the empty battery of a GMC Terrain there are only few solutions, using a battery charger is the most efficient solution, you can discover some for 50 to 100 euros at vendors like Oscaro. In any other case you can use cables that will only provide the energy needed to begin.
To discover more tips on the GMC Terrain, take a look at the GMC Terrain category.
