Five Things That Can Drain A Car Battery

auto mechanic attaching jumper cables to car battery

Without a fully working car battery, your vehicle won’t be able to function as it should. This component plays a crucial role in your charging system—it allows your vehicle to start, after all. Because that’s the case, you should strive to be aware of any potential issues with your car battery.

Even when your vehicle’s battery is in good shape, all kinds of factors can affect its ability to work correctly. And if you’re overdue for car battery replacement, you can expect your battery to get drained more quickly than it otherwise would. Here, you’ll find five things that can bleed your car battery dry before you know it.

1. Electrical Components

A few different electrical components can affect your car battery’s energy level. Still, no part is more notorious for causing battery issues than headlights. Traditional car headlights can stay on until they are manually deactivated—or until the battery powering them runs out of charge. While many newer cars have headlights that turn off automatically after a given amount of time passes, it’s wise to double-check that your vehicle offers this feature.

Of course, your headlights aren’t the only thing your car battery powers when your car is turned off. The car battery also provides electricity to components like your vehicle’s alarm, radio, and clock, but these don’t typically affect its ability to hold a charge. Instead, bad relays and door or interior lights are the main contributors to so-called “parasitic draws”.

While your engine is running, your alternator supplies power to the battery to help it recharge. However, that isn’t possible when your car is parked and turned off. Since the alternator is inactive in this situation, even a tiny power draw can eventually drain your entire battery.

Avoiding parasitic draws requires some extra effort on your part, but the positive effect this will have on your car battery’s overall performance is worth it. When you park your car, be sure your interior and exterior lights are off, and double-check that your doors, glove compartment, and trunk are fully closed and latched.

2. Car Battery Issues

Even the best car batteries have a limited lifespan. Particularly long-lasting batteries can serve you well for roughly five years, but that’s not guaranteed to be the case for the battery in your vehicle. General everyday use and some of the factors listed elsewhere in this article could cut this period down to three or even two years. As a rule of thumb, if your battery can’t hold a charge even after a jump-start, you need a car battery replacement regardless of your battery’s age.

Given enough time, your car battery’s positive and negative terminals could also become loose or corroded. When that’s the case, it might not be able to function correctly since it can’t effectively transmit the power it holds. By checking and cleaning your battery terminals regularly (or choosing qualified technicians to do this work for you), you’ll be able to reduce the impact these issues could have on your vehicle.

3. Problems With Your Alternator

Under normal conditions, the alternator will provide a steady power flow to the battery while your car runs. That said, an improperly functioning alternator won’t be able to charge your battery sufficiently. If your alternator isn’t working, you might sometimes find it challenging to start your vehicle—even in situations where you were driving a little while ago.

4. Driving Habits

Starting up your vehicle requires a great deal of battery power, and your alternator needs to be able to charge your battery while you drive to make up for this power draw. But if you usually take short drives, your alternator might not have enough time to fully charge the battery during trips (especially if your car battery is already a few years old). In fact, driving this way can reduce your battery’s lifespan.

5. Weather Conditions

While you can keep your battery’s charge level high by adjusting for most of the above factors, some things that can affect your car battery are out of your control. Take weather conditions, for example. Scorching and freezing temperatures can quickly drain your battery, and Nevada and Arizona are well-known for its desert heat.

If your car battery is still new, it might withstand these conditions with little difficulty. On the other hand, older batteries could easily get weakened or completely drained by weather conditions. When your battery is feeling the effects of the weather, it may need maintenance or a complete car battery replacement.

Are You Ready for Car Battery Replacement?

If your car battery seems like it could have a few years left, not wanting to replace it in the short term is understandable. To get the most out of your current battery, try to:

Avoid using electronics when your car is turned off
Not idle your vehicle for too long
Clean your battery terminals regularly
Turn off your lights when your vehicle is parked.

With these car battery maintenance tips in mind, you’ll be ready to keep your battery in good shape. However, you need to remember that no battery lasts forever. If your battery exhibits any of these symptoms, it may be time for a car battery replacement:

A battery leak (look for corrosion)
A bloated battery case
Slower-than-average engine cranking
Low levels of battery fluid
An active “check engine” or “battery warning” light.

Know Where to Go for Car Battery Service

Whether your car battery needs to be replaced or you think it could use some maintenance, the best way to ensure this component gets the attention it deserves is by visiting the Tire Works location closest to you.

When you choose Tire Works for your car battery replacement and repair needs, you’ll benefit from our: