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The Top 7 Things That Will Drain Your Car Battery
It can be hard and tricky to figure out what causes a car battery to drain and not to hold a charge.
Assuming that the cause of the battery drain is not human error,you will need the assistance of a qualified technician who can diagnose your car’s electrical problems and determine if it is the battery or something else in the electrical system.
The following are the main causes of car battery drain or failure.
1)Corroded or Loose battery connections
Corroded battery and loose battery connections can prevent the charging system from topping off your battery when you are driving.The build-up of lead sulfate crystals shortens the life of your battery and also increases the amount of time it needs to be recharged.
2)Parasitic Drain
Parasitic drain occurs when vehicle components continue to draw power from your battery,even after the key is turned off and removed entirely.
Some parasitic drain are normal such as when the clock,radio presets,security alarm,power doors and power locks uses the energy from the battery to stay operational at all times.
However,if your electrical system is faulty,it’s possible that larger systems could be running even when the car is turned off,which exceed what’s normal and deplete the battery.
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3)Old,Worn-Out Battery
An old battery will not hold a full charge.
If your car is not starting consistently and your battery is old,it’s possible that the battery is worn out and battery replacement should be the first thing to consider.It is advisable to replace your car battery every 4-5 years.
4)Too Many Short Drives
The most taxing use of your car’s battery is to supply power to your vehicle’s ignition.
Frequent short journeys in which you keep on starting and stopping your vehicle do not give your battery sufficient time to recharge,which means it will drain energy faster than it can replace it.
5)Faulty Charging System/A Defective Alternator
The first sign of alternator or charging system trouble may be dim headlights or an engine that is slow to crank or will not crank.The charging system keeps the battery charged, and supplies voltage for the entire electrical system.
If there is no charging output,the battery will quickly discharge.
6)Human Error
Car battery can be drained overnight when the lights are left on,doors left unlocked or not closing the boot completely.Many new cars alert you if you’ve left your lights on,but may not have alerts for other components.
7)Extremely Hot and Cold Temperatures
Exposing the battery to extreme temperature ranges can be very tough on your car battery.
Extreme temperatures allow lead plates inside the battery to corrode and deteriorate.
Hot or cold weather won’t kill a battery that’s new or in good shape,but a weak or old battery may fail in extreme conditions.
You can add other cause/s that may drain a car battery
www.yourmechanic.com
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