can a weak car battery rob engine performance?

Question

my car battery recently died, and now that it's replaced it seems that my car is producing more power.

Answer 1

YES YES YES all the no answers to this question are from people who are living in the past.
A computer controled vehicle needs a good battery for maximum performance. If your battery has low voltage and / or will not take a charge this will rob voltage from needed system components. Batteries in current production vehicles help in maintaining engine perforformance as well as the primary function of starting the vehicle.
A lot of components draw power directly from the battery connection and NOT from the alternator.
The old days of diagnosing a bad alternator /regulator by removing the neg. battery cable are gone. This action will cause certain system failures because of the way newer vehicles are wired and false diagnosis.
The answer is YES a good and fully charged battery is needed for maximum engine performance.

Answer 2

Yes that is possible. Normally, the battery is kept sufficiently charged by the alternator, but sometimes that's not possible. It could be something wrong with the alternator, the battery is too small, too old or just bad. Whatever the case, if the battery is weak, it puts out less of a spark in the combustion chamber. This may mean that not as much fuel is burned and if it is, not burned as efficiently. Loss of combustion and efficiency can both lead to diminished performance. Then again, the car not starting is a real performance killer too.

Answer 3

Yes--if the battery voltage is very low, the alternator may not be able to bring the electrical system voltage up to design specifications until it has been operating for a while--check system voltage with a meter--should be above 14 volts when engine is a road speed!
Could be that the charging system is not operating properly which would show up as a "weak battery" AND poor engine performance!

Answer 4

No, the battery only gets the car started, and then the Alternator and distributor evenly distribute the correct amount of power to everything like Radio, lights, and the very little electrical power that the engine uses, while also slowly charging the battery while the car is running, but it wont charge when the engine isnt running.

Answer 5

Not substantially coz battery helps in stratup and runing electronic parts/accessories in the car. A weak battery will give you startup problems which also results in higher fuel consumption (but limited to stratup).Once the engine starts, dynamo takes over to ignite the fuel for combustion, its function is independent of battery. A weak battery will not be charged enough to take the electrical load so it might lead to non functional electrical parts/accessories.

Answer 6

Your battery is charged by the alternator. If the battery is weak, the alternator has to work harder to maintain the 14 volt charge. That takes horsepower. Also, proper voltage allows the coil or hei to produce a hotter spark. All sensors expect 13.8 volts to produce a proper midline voltage.

Answer 7

Yes, but it doesn't make a big performance difference. You should replace it ASAP tho, as it will leave you stranded soon if it really is weak. Also, have your alternator and voltage regulator checked to be sure that they aren't draining your battery.

Answer 8

No, the battery only gets the engine started.

Try changing spark plugs, spark plug wires, air filter, oil change, fuel cleaner.

Answer 9

no once the engine starts your alternator supplies all the power the auto needs to operate

Answer 10

Was on Yahoo for something unrelated, but this question was shown on the sidebar...