United Tire and Service News

If you've ever tried to start your car to little success only to discover your battery dead, you may be left wondering what the culprit was. The truth is, what drains a car battery can vary. Anything from user-error to the age of your vehicle and its parts can make an impact. Whatever the cause may be, it's inconvenient to say the least. So, what's often responsible for making you seek out a pair of jumper cables?

 

This is one of the more common occurrences. If you leave your headlights on, it can drain your car battery until the battery is totally dead. It is worth pointing out that quite a few newer cars feature headlights that are made to turn off after a particular amount of time. However, if your car does not include this feature, it is best to check your headlights before you walk away from the car or you might come back to a dead battery. 

 

Corroded or loose battery connections are another possible cause. Your car battery's positive and negative terminals may become loose over time. Additionally, it is also possible that the positive and negative terminals have become corroded.

 

In the event that these terminals are corroded or loose, You might even struggle to start your car. This is because the car battery cannot transmit its power properly due to these loose or corroded terminals. Cleaning your car's battery terminals regularly can prevent these issues.

 

Even after you turn your car off, the car battery still powers various features like the alarm system, the radio, and the clock. None of these things should drain your car's battery. However, faulty relays, door lights, and interior lights are some things that can drain the battery even if the car is off. These are called parasitic draws. 

 

You can prevent parasitic draws by making sure every light has been turned off. In addition, ensure that the doors, glove box, and trunk are latched and totally closed before walking away from the car. 

 

Over time, you will have to replace quite a few parts in your car—and this goes for your car's battery, of course. The battery may be able to run for five years, although your driving habits and the area you live in affect this. Extreme temperatures, general wear and tear from everyday use, and a lot of short trips can shorten the battery life. In the event that your car battery dies rapidly, even right after a jumpstart, it might be time to replace it.

 

If your car battery keeps dying, you might have to consider the impact of extreme temperatures. Extremely hot summer days or very cold winter days can affect your car battery negatively. If your car has a newer battery, it will be able to withstand these extreme temperatures more effectively. However, these extreme temperatures can decrease the performance of an older battery or even make it die completely. If you see that your car battery is struggling to handle extreme temperatures, it is best to have certified auto technicians check it out. 

 

As previously mentioned, if you take a lot of short trips, it can cause your car battery to drain more quickly. The alternator recharges your car's battery when the car is running. However, the alternator may not be able to recharge the battery properly if you take frequent short trips.

This is because the alternator does not have enough time to recharge the battery during frequent short trips. This is even more true if your car has an older battery. In fact, frequent short trips can even decrease your car battery's lifespan over the long term. 

 

By following these tips, you can ensure that you are extending the life of your battery for as long as possible. But eventually it will need to be replaced after a few years. When the time comes, call your local United Tire location or schedule an appointment online and our team of experts will help.