In my opinion, if it won't start the vehicle, it's of no use. It doesn't matter if it still powers the headlights and the wipers. If it won't start the engine, it might as well be 0.0V.

Of course, I don't drive anything that won't let me into the vehicle unless the battery has a charge. I'll never understand why anyone would want a newer Corvette. I came across a couple when I was doing roadside assistance and the people were locked out because the battery was dead. The cars don't even HAVE a key. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and call them a tow truck. Kind of hard to pop the hood when you can't even unlock the doors...

 

In my opinion, if it won't start the vehicle, it's of no use. It doesn't matter if it still powers the headlights and the wipers. If it won't start the engine, it might as well be 0.0V.

Of course, I don't drive anything that won't let me into the vehicle unless the battery has a charge. I'll never understand why anyone would want a newer Corvette. I came across a couple when I was doing roadside assistance and the people were locked out because the battery was dead. The cars don't even HAVE a key. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and call them a tow truck. Kind of hard to pop the hood when you can't even unlock the doors...

Yes they do. All cars that have push button start DO, in fact, have a physical key 'hidden' in the remote just in case.

And a quick google search reveals that C6 'Vette's have a lock cylinder near the hatch.

 

Its gotta get you from point A to pont B or its dead.

 

If my jeep wont start, my batteries dead

 

Dead means no function at all.
No crank but the CB still works (or lights) and you may be able to push start it = a weak battery...IMO

 

Dead means the vehicle won't work. "Completely" dead equates to needs replaced, i.e. won't take or hold a charge, i.e. pulling little to no amps when hooked the charger (easiest way I test my own batteries).

 

I say my battery is dead when the starter won't click and the dash doesn't turn on.

I say I drained the battery when the starter clicks and the dash turns on.

 

Ahh, yes. Drained but not dead. Good point...

 

^ In BMW's that have a central locking system, you can open the trunk with a key, then pull a manual release. They always have a bail-out feature in case either the remote or car battery dies (however you define dead).

 

To the OP neither of those choices in the poll are correct.

The definition of a dead battery is when it ceases to have enough power to perform the function in which it was designed. I've seen batteries with 12+ volts that could not start the vehicle due to amperage being low (amperage being more important that voltage). I've seen batteries that would start the vehicle but the vehicle would die under wide open throttle because the battery was going out and could not handle the load. Both of these instances the battery was "dead". Even though the battery is dead does not mean it's bad, many can be recharged and function normally.


I worked for Land Rover for a few years, they have no visible exterior lock cylinders, however in case of a remote or battery failure you can pop off a cover that is on the drivers door handle where a lock cylinder would normally be and it is there.

 

Dead = wont start.
****ed (vulgar) or Shot (polite company) = 0.0 volts. Time to replace.

 

Dead - 0.0v

I work in a parts store and a lot of people come in with "dead" batteries that power all the accessories fine but just need a little charge to spin the starter because the customer drained the battery. When I charge the battery, have I revived a dead battery?

 

as stated above dead=no start

0.00000000000000000 on a multi meter=shot.

 

Low battery = can't start vehicle

Dead battey = nothing electric works at all

 

"dead" in car battery terms is anything at 11v or lower if memory serves. Most vehicles especially modern vehicles with computers are 100% dead at that voltage. But most 'dead' batteries will still show voltage. A 0.0 reading is a shorted/dropped cell battery.

My samurai, confirmed today and numerous times in the past will start on 10v. Slow cranking for sure, but it fires. It's awesome.

 

Yep, even most "dead" batteries have some voltage. Im still running an '03 battery in my truck, it started at -15 the other day. If its in mine I dont replace it till Im stranded, wife gets hers replaced preventatively.

 

after 35 years of being a professional mechanic. "dead" is a term used for any battery that can not start the vehicle it is installed in on its own. a battery can have 14 volts at the terminals but still not hold enough amperage to turn over the starter. its still a "dead" battery! like wise a battery that has 1 or 2 volts in it.
late model vehicles having computers and such generally require 9.5 volts to run as do some alternators. a weak, shorted, or discharged battery can supply this basic voltage but not the amount of amps for the starter to spin up. in the trade this is still a "dead" battery.

 

To me dead is 0.0 volts.
I look at it like this, a human is still alive till their heart stops beating. When the heart stops beating, as in 0.0 volts in a battery, they are dead.

 

To me a dead one is a battery that has no charge, can not be recharged, or has a cracked case or other obvious trauma. A battery which will hold a charge and is capable of being charged, but is not currently charged enough to start your jeep is drained. There are no zombie batteries.

 

You cant bring dead back from life. If 8 hours on the charger makes your vehicle start, it wasnt dead, only weak.

 

If it doesn't hold a charge it's dead

Although most people consider one that is just drained dead.

If it reads 7 volts after charging all night and sitting for an hour it's dead (unless it's a 6V battery

If it reads 12V, but it drops to 2 when you draw 20 amps from it (after charging) it's dead.

Any battery that is no longer capable of starting an appropriate vehicle (after charging) is dead (no, just cause your 4 wheeler battery won't start your peterbuilt doesn't mean it's dead, and just 'cause your peterbuilt battery can still start your 4 wheeler doesn't mean it's not dead).

For what it's worth These guys are talking about jump starting a dead battery (which would be useless or even dangerous for a 0.00v battery in many modern vehicles). I'd listen to them, they (Johnson Controls) make at least 1/3 of the batteries in North America (Die Hard, Autocraft, Everstart, etc.. etc....)

http://www.autobatteries.com/basics/howprintable.asp

Basically if the only thing left for the battery to do is get melted down and turned into a new battery, dead.