Why is My Car Battery Draining So Fast?

July 19th, 2023 by

Have you ever parked your car in your driveway or in the garage for the night, come out in the morning to start your vehicle, and had no response? The battery is an essential component for giving your combustion engine the spark it needs to start, and if the battery’s dead, you’ll be stuck. While you can get a jump-start and charge the battery back up to get going, you’ll want to have the battery checked or check it yourself to determine why it’s draining. Here are some of the most common reasons your car battery may drain.

A Parasitic Drain or Draw

A parasitic drain is just what it sounds like. If you leave the lights or other electrical devices on in your car, they’ll suck all the juice from your battery, even if the ignition’s off, just like a parasite.

Even when your car is off, the battery will keep powering the clock, radio, and even the alarm system. While these things don’t usually have a significant impact on the battery, they will keep drawing from it. If other things, such as the interior lights or the door lights, are also on, the combination is more than the battery can handle, and the power will drain.

The reason these electricity sources don’t drain the battery while your car is running is because the alternator recharges the battery. When your car is turned off, the alternator stops, so it doesn’t keep the battery charged. A faulty sensor can also keep one of these components running while your car is off and cause it to drain the battery.

A Bad Alternator

Since it’s the alternator’s job to recharge the battery when your car’s running, if the alternator fails, it won’t do its job. If it doesn’t have the power to charge the battery, but the battery keeps other components in the car running, such as the radio, lights, and headlights, it will just continue to drain. If you have a battery problem, one of the first things you’ll want to check is the alternator.

One of the problems that can occur with the alternator is a bad alternator diode. The diode keeps the current flowing in one direction. In other words, it keeps the current flowing to the battery. If the diode is bad, it may allow the current to flow in both directions. When this happens, it may cause the charging circuit to stay on after you’ve turned the engine off, and this can cause the battery to drain.

Loose or Bad Battery Connections

Every battery has positive and negative terminals that connect to cables that send power to other components. If these connections become loose or corroded, the battery can discharge. Once it discharges, the vehicle may not start because the battery can’t transmit its power as it should. The best way to prevent this is by keeping the terminals clean. You can have them checked when you bring your car in for maintenance. If they need cleaning, your mechanic or dealership technician can take care of it for you.

If you’re not sure if you have loose or corroded cables, there are some signs to look for. If your headlights are flickering or you have problems starting the car, it might be the connections between the terminals and the cables.

The Battery Is Old

Batteries have a limited life span. Depending on the battery, it may last anywhere from three to five years. Some may last longer than this, but if you haven’t replaced the battery in several years and it keeps draining, it’s most likely because it’s just too old to keep a good charge.

Where you live and your driving habits have a significant impact on how long your battery lasts. If you live in an area that undergoes extreme temperature changes, it’s hard on your battery. Taking frequent short trips can also shorten the life of your car battery. Every time you crank the engine, it uses a lot of battery power, but the alternator recharges it as you drive. If you don’t stay on the road long enough for the alternator to charge the battery back up, it will just continue to drain every time you start the car.

If your car battery dies quickly, even after jump-starting the car, it might be time for a new one. You can get a new battery at your dealership service station or at an auto parts store.

Excessive Heat and Extreme Cold

If it seems like your car battery dies more often in the winter, it’s probably not the case. It’s usually not the cold that affects batteries but extreme heat. Hot summer days can cause your battery to deteriorate. By the time it’s depleted enough for you to notice, winter has arrived, so you blame it on the cold.

To help avoid damaging your battery when the temperatures rise, keep your car parked in the shade as much as possible. If you have a garage, pull in during the heat of the day, and if you can find a shady area to park when you’re out, your battery will appreciate it.

Lack of Driving

If you leave your car parked for too long without starting it, it can cause issues with the battery. A slow drain will eventually lead to a dead battery if you don’t start it up and let the alternator charge it back up. If you haven’t driven anywhere in several days or weeks, and your car doesn’t start, it’s probably because the battery is dead. In this case, a jump-start will most likely get you going again.

Do You Need A Battery Test?

Have you had problems with your car battery? If you have questions or want a trained technician to take a look at the connections or test the battery to see how strong it is, you can bring your car to Riverside Ford in Macon, Georgia. Our service staff will be happy to check it out and replace it if necessary.

Posted in Service