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A dead car battery is a serious issue because it would prevent the car from starting up. Similarly, a weak battery may not be able to power all the electrical (power) accessories installed in your car. But what causes a car battery to die quickly?
Well, there are a lot of things that could cause a car battery to die quickly; this includes a bad alternator supplying insufficient current charge to the battery cells or the battery is already weak.
In all, a dead or weak car battery is really a big problem to face, and as such, you should know the things that make car batteries go bad.
There are quite other reasons, and they are discussed in this article!
What Causes a Car Battery To Die Quickly?
Below, we will discuss the various things that can make a car battery die quickly!
1. The Battery Is Already Weak
Car batteries have a predicted life expectancy of two to five years; this means that after a car battery has been constantly used for up to 2 or 5 years, the battery may become weak and unable to hold a charge for longer times.
At this point, the battery would die quickly because it has reached its life expectancy. So, if the battery in your car has been there for several years, chances are that the battery is already weak and that’s why it can’t hold a charge for a longer time.
2. Heavy Usage
If you use external accessories such as a car refrigerator, coolers, and other similar accessories, that could be the reason why your car battery dies quickly.
Basically, car batteries are built to power every electrical accessory and component in the car; if you connect heavy external accessories, they’d drain the battery much faster.
Also, if you always leave the key on the “On” position for longer times, maybe in traffic or for any reason at all, that’s one of the ways to kill a car battery faster. Plugging your mobile devices via the car’s USB and letting them stay for a long time is also a contributor to heavy battery usage.
3. Charging Problems
Maybe your car’s battery is not charging “Full” and that’s why it dies off quickly. The alternator is responsible for charging the battery in every car. If the alternator goes bad for any reason, the battery won’t be getting charged properly.
So, when your car battery keeps dying faster than normal, check the alternator and possibly have it replaced. It is also important to note that loose or stretched belts and worn-out tensioners can affect the functionality of the alternator; thus, preventing the full charge of your car battery – have these parts checked too.
4. You Always Leave The Lights On
If your headlights, headlamps, and other lights (maybe the trunk lights) are always shining (turned on), that of course would cause the battery to die quickly.
All lights in a car are powered by the battery; so, by leaving them turned on all the time, you’re making the battery drain faster. Turn off these lights when not needed.
5. Parasitic Draw
Some lights or systems do turn on by themselves at intervals – such as the dashboard lights, alarm lights, trunk lights, and pretty others. These lights can silently contribute to the quick drainage of your car’s battery.
But, before these minor lights can cause your car’s battery to drain faster, it means the battery has reached its lifespan. The wattage of these lights is almost insignificant and won’t affect the durability of new batteries.
6. Temperature Conditions
When the battery is new or still in good condition, the temperature conditions do not matter. But, when a car battery is weak, the outside temperature can really affect its performance. That said, extremely hot or extremely cold temperatures can make weak car batteries die quickly.
What More?
What causes a car battery to die quickly? Majorly, these are the six commonest reasons why a car battery may die quickly. Notwithstanding, if the battery posts are corroded, it’d affect the amount of charge the battery would get from the alternator.
Always check your car’s battery posts and have them cleaned if they seem corroded. It is also advisable to change your car’s battery when it has reached the predicted lifespan. A car with a dead battery won’t start up, you’d have to jump-start the vehicle.