Can a car still run with a broken battery cell?
2 Answers
A battery with a broken cell cannot be used and should be repaired immediately. The phenomenon of a broken battery cell refers to the disconnection of the internal electrode plate bridge, causing the car battery to fail to function properly (insufficient voltage). There are three main reasons for a broken battery cell: 1. Poor quality of the battery itself. 2. Incorrect usage of the battery: Long-term deep discharge and the use of high-power car chargers can both lead to a broken battery cell. 3. The battery has suffered severe impact or falling, causing internal electrode plates to break. Regarding battery usage, the following precautions should be noted: 1. Prevent over-discharge: When a battery is discharged beyond its termination voltage, continued discharge is called over-discharge. Over-discharge can severely damage the battery, adversely affecting its electrical performance and cycle life. 2. Prevent overcharging: Overcharging increases water loss in the battery, accelerates grid corrosion, softens the active material, and raises the likelihood of battery deformation. 3. Prevent short circuits: In a short-circuit state, the battery's short-circuit current can reach hundreds of amperes. The stronger the short-circuit contact, the greater the short-circuit current, generating significant heat at all connection points, especially at weak spots, which can melt the connections and cause a short circuit.
Once my old car's battery had a broken cell while the engine was running. I tried driving a short distance home, feeling the speed was steady but the lights were a bit dim. I was quite nervous, worried about suddenly stalling on the street, which would have been extremely embarrassing. Experience told me that while the car is running, the alternator still supplies power, barely keeping things going. But once you stop or need to start the engine, the chance of not being able to fire it up is very high, especially on the highway or at night, when the risk doubles. I suggest finding a safe place to stop and check as soon as possible, such as measuring the voltage or towing it directly to a repair shop—don’t gamble on luck. Replacing the battery doesn’t cost much, and it saves you from even higher towing fees after a breakdown. Safety should always come first.
