You can feel drained by many things, such as an unbalanced eating plan, a long workday, or spending too much time around others. Even though your battery isn’t likely to attend many social events in its free time, it can still feel drained by other factors.
What Causes A Car Battery To Drain?
A dead battery is annoying, but can be avoided. You must first understand what causes a dead car battery. Put those jumper cables away and take a look at these seven reasons why your car’s battery is always dying.
1. You left your headlights on.
Check your car’s lights first if your battery is draining. Most newer cars have automatic headlights that turn off after some time. If your car does not have this feature, the headlights will stay on until either you turn them off or your battery is completely depleted.
2. Something is causing a “parasitic draw.”
Your battery powers things like your alarm system, radio and clock even when your car is not running. The battery shouldn’t be affected by these things. When the car is off, interior lights, doorlights, and even bad relays can drain a battery.
The alternator charges the battery while your engine is running. This is why you don’t need to worry about your battery dying when you blast the radio as you drive to work. When the engine is turned off, the alternator cannot recharge the battery. This allows small electrical problems to drain the battery completely. A parasitic draw is the term used to describe battery strain that results from these electrical mishaps.
To avoid parasitic pulls, make sure you turn off all lights and that your trunk, glovebox, and doors are closed and latches before leaving the vehicle.
3. Your battery connections are loose or damaged.
Over time, the positive and negative terminals of your battery may become loose. They may also become corroded. You may have difficulty starting your vehicle if your terminals are loose or corroded. This is because your battery cannot properly transmit power. The vehicle could even damage electronic components or stall while driving. cleaning the battery terminals on a regular basis can help to prevent corrosion problems. Come to your local Firestone Complete Auto Care if you’re unsure how to clean the battery terminals.
4. It’s Very Hot Or Cold Outside.
Batteries can be affected by extreme temperatures, such as those experienced in winter and summer. Batteries that are newer tend to be more resistant to extreme temperatures. If your battery is old, extreme cold or heat can cause it to lose its power or even die! Come to Firestone Complete Auto Care if you notice that your battery is having trouble with the weather. Our auto technicians can diagnose the problem and help resolve it.
5. The battery is not charging while you drive.
When you start your car, the battery is what keeps it charged. When your car is running, the alternator helps keep your battery charged. Your alternator will not be able to charge your battery properly if it isn’t functioning correctly. This can make it difficult to start the car, even if it’s just for driving.
Your alternator could be the culprit if your car doesn’t start up after you’ve driven. Bring your vehicle to a Firestone Complete Auto Care and ask for an auto diagnostics check.
6. You’re taking too many short drives.
The alternator will recharge your battery as the engine is running. The alternator may not be able to recharge your battery properly if you frequently go on short trips, especially if the battery is older. Over time, frequent short drives can reduce the lifespan of your car’s battery.
7. Your battery is old.
Your car’s battery is no exception. Battery life can vary depending on your location and driving habits. Extreme temperatures and frequent short trips along with general daily use can reduce the battery’s life to just two to three year. It may be time to replace your battery if it dies rapidly, even after you jumpstart the car.
Check and replace your battery
You are tired of having to use jumper cables each time you want to start your vehicle? Have your battery checked for free by a Firestone complete auto care near you. You’ll know how long your battery has left and how healthy it is. Our Complete Battery and Electrical System Check can also help identify the problem if your battery is being drained. If it’s the right time to replace your battery, we will install a high-quality replacement battery.
