Can a Bad Battery Cause Reduced Engine Power?

Reduced engine power in a vehicle can arise from several causes, but is a bad battery one?

Yes, a bad battery can reduce engine power because it might not provide sufficient voltage for the engine to start. However, the engine’s performance doesn’t depend on the battery directly. Engine power derives from the tiny explosions that move its pistons up and down, which relies on the fuel reacting with oxygen.

I will explain the causes of reduced engine power, how a bad battery affects the car, how to deal with a bad battery, and the impact of driving with reduced engine power below.

How a Bad Battery Affects Your Engine

The battery plays an important role in a vehicle’s operation.

It stores the electricity generated by the alternator, which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. The car uses the stored electrical energy in the battery while cranking the engine to start the car. The battery also provides power for certain components and accessories and protects them from current surges.

A bad battery can cause various problems due to insufficient charge. It won’t perform optimally, if at all. But can a bad battery adversely affect engine power and performance?

Once the car has started, the battery doesn’t impact directly the engine’s performance, so it cannot be directly responsible for reducing engine power. Engine power derives directly from the tiny explosions that move its pistons up and down, which relies on the fuel reacting with oxygen.

However, a bad battery can still affect the vehicle’s overall performance indirectly by impacting other important vehicle parts and components that directly affect the engine performance. For instance, it can cause:

• Engine overheating
• Startup problems
• Low gas mileage
• Abnormal functioning of other components and accessories

Overheating and Reduced Engine Performance

A bad battery indirectly affects the vehicle’s performance by affecting other components or parts that directly impact engine power.

You should replace a bad battery because, besides increased gas mileage, the internal temperature will also be higher. The overheating can damage various parts of the engine, thus, leading to reduced engine performance.

Startup Problems and Gas Mileage

A bad battery may not store sufficient charge to start the vehicle.

It can also weaken the alternator, which generates the electrical energy it stores because it will make it work harder than normal. The engine will use more gas than usual, which could worsen the situation if the bad battery is not replaced soon.

It’s not that the engine has reduced power; rather, insufficient charge in the battery will not be able to start the car. It necessitates jump-starting the car.

Impact on Other Components

The car’s internal accessories are impacted directly by a bad battery.

They might behave abnormally, erratically, or fail to work altogether. They include dashboard lights, radios, power windows, heaters, etc.

Keeping a check on the car’s accessories is one way of checking whether the battery retains sufficient charge, other than when starting the car.

Reduced Engine Power

Reduced engine power means an underperforming engine, i.e., an engine not operating to its full potential.

The REP (Reduced Engine Power) light indicates reduced engine power.

Engine power can be reduced due to several possible causes.

Some common causes are:

• Dirty or defective spark plugs
• Damaged wiring
• Faulty fuel system
• Bad air filter
• Malfunctioned MAF sensor
• ECU issue
• Faulty TAC system
• Faulty oxygen sensor

As you can see, a bad battery is not one of them, but it can affect other components in the vehicle that may indirectly impact the engine’s power adversely.

Dirty or Defective Spark Plugs

Spark plugs with dust or soot weaken them, making them incapable of igniting the fuel. Defective spark plugs will cause misfiring issues.

Damaged Wiring

Damaged wiring has increased resistance. It will not allow the engine to operate normally, if at all.

Faulty Fuel System

A loose cap on the fuel tank can cause the REP light to come on.

You may only need to tighten the cap to fix the problem, but replace it if it’s broken.

Another indication of a faulty fuel system is poor acceleration. So, check the fuel system if you notice that happening.

Bad Air Filter

A bad filter can also fail to prevent debris from entering the combustion chamber, and too much dust increases the air pressure, which leads to higher fuel intake.

Malfunctioned MAF Sensor

A malfunctioned MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor makes the car lose power when driving.

It is the first component that detects the car’s combustion, which generates energy to power the engine.

ECU Issue

The vehicle’s ECU (Electronic Control Unit) manages various electrical components.

A problem in the ECU may be due to overvoltage or water seepage. Both can damage the pins inside or create a short circuit.

If you suspect this is the cause, you must take the ECU to an auto-electrician.

Faulty TAC System

The TAC (Throttle Actuator Control) controls the vehicle’s timing and fuel injection.

It works in place of the mechanical throttle found in older vehicles. A faulty TAC system may behave abnormally, such as interrupting fuel delivery to the engine, thus, reducing engine power.

Faulty Oxygen Sensor

The vehicle’s oxygen sensor measures the residual oxygen in the engine’s exhaust gases and transmits the signal to the ECU.

It can reduce engine power if unclean or faulty because the ECU uses its data to manage combustion.

A dirty oxygen sensor cannot give the right transmission signal, so the engine might consume more fuel than required. Always ensure the oxygen sensor is clean. Replace one that fails to work.

Dealing with a Bad Battery in Your Car

The symptoms of a bad battery don’t necessarily mean the battery is bad and cannot be used further.

A battery might fail to function properly if, for instance, there’s a build-up of corrosion on its terminals, preventing current from flowing properly. The same can happen if there’s a loose wire or connection or a low water level. These things can usually be fixed easily:

• Tighten any loose connections.
• Replace any weak or damaged wires.
• Clean the corroded part with baking soda and soap, then allow it to dry completely before reconnecting the battery.

A battery is only dead if its internal cells are damaged, or its plates cause bulging.

Driving with Reduced Engine Power

If you notice reduced engine power, you will experience issues such as difficulties in starting and poor acceleration, but more serious symptoms can also arise.

Can I Drive with Reduced Engine Power?

You may continue driving, albeit extra carefully, if the symptoms are minor and you can handle the reduced performance and poor driveability.

But you won’t have a choice if the situation is more serious and disruptive, such as shifting gears, misfiring, and frequent stopping. The car will fail to drive for much longer. If it still drives manageably, it may be difficult to do so, and be aware that the gas mileage could be very high. It might not be an enjoyable experience.

So, depending on the severity of the reduced engine power, you can drive if you’re sure that you can control the vehicle safely; otherwise, you should let a mechanic check it before using the vehicle again.

Can I Drive with the REP Light On?

The REP light is similar to the “Check Engine” light.

It indicates something is wrong with the engine, causing it to underperform significantly. Whereas you can continue driving if you see the Check Engine light until you fix the issue, reduced engine performance becomes noticeable immediately. The car will fail to drive properly, and in a worst-case scenario, it may barely be capable of moving.

So, a REP light is a serious situation that should not be ignored. If you’re stranded somewhere and more than a few miles away from home, you must have your car hauled.

References

Fault in the wiring. https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-qdhud

Weak battery to jumpstart. https://www.wallpaperflare.com/battery-broken-cable-cables-car-engine-garage-gears-wallpaper-hglte

Video References

Advance Auto Parts

Al Satch

Autodata Training

CAR Self Repair

ECU Testing