Having your car battery begin to falter can be incredibly stressful. It can force you to show up late for work or for an appointment, and it can even leave you stranded in a remote location. It’s also something that is inevitable, for the most part. Car batteries do not have an infinite charge, and they eventually need to be replaced. However, there’s a difference between replacing the battery and dealing with a battery that has lost its charge. One is planned, and the other seems to occur when you least expect it. However, if you know what causes a car battery to run down, you can avoid this from happening most of the time.
Leaving the Lights On
This is probably the most common cause of a dead car battery, as leaving the headlights or the interior lights on for several hours will completely drain the battery. This can also occur if you don’t close a door or the trunk completely, because the interior lighting system that illuminates when an opening is unlatched may stay on indefinitely. Some cars feature some kind of warning chime to let you know that you’ve left the lights on, but some don’t, so you need to be aware at all times.
Alternator Problems
Another issue that can cause car batteries to lose their charge is the presence a damaged or defective diode within the alternator. This can incite a number of different problems, such as causing the alternator to continue to draw power even after you shut off the engine.
Charging Problems
Your car’s charging system may also cause the battery to drain if it’s not functioning correctly. What often happens here is that the car’s radio, lights, and other electrical systems end up being powered by the alternator, which causes the actual battery to quickly drain. Car batteries that drain due to bad charging systems tend to fail very quickly and can leave the driver on the side of the road. You can follow them on Twitter for latest news and more updates!
