Why Does My Car Battery Keep Dying?
A car battery that keeps dying may have a parasitic draw, corroded battery connectors, or be too old.
Written by Annette Maxon
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
If your car battery keeps dying, the problem may be caused by electrical components pulling energy even when the car is off, corroded or dirty battery connections, electrically taxing components, a faulty charging system, or simply an old battery.
No one likes going out to their car in the morning only to find that the battery is dead…again. Since jumping the battery or frequently visiting the auto shop takes time, energy, and often money, it’s good to figure out what’s causing your battery to keep dying so you can fix the issue sooner than later.
That’s why
Jerry
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savings app, created this helpful guide to solve your car battery problems. We’ll cover common reasons why your battery keeps dying, ways to maintain your battery, and how to cover the costs of repairs.Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
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Common reasons why your car battery keeps dying
If a dead car battery is becoming a pattern for you, there is likely an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Here’s a look at the most common reasons why your battery keeps dying.
Parasitic draw
Rest assured that this issue has nothing to do with insects. Instead, a parasitic draw is when other systems in your vehicle continue to suck energy from your car even once the engine is shut off.
When this happens, the battery is drained and unable to recharge, leading to your dead car battery. Common culprits are the clock and radio system, alarm system, internal computers, and power mirrors.
Be careful not to mistake a parasitic draw with accidentally leaving your headlights on all night (more on that later). Instead, this sneaky draining of your car’s battery occurs even when everything appears to be turned off.
No matter how many times you try to jump-start your vehicle or remedy the battery, you’re fighting an uphill battle if a parasitic draw is the culprit. To get this diagnosed, you’ll likely need to visit your auto mechanic to identify the source of the parasitic drain and fix the faulty electrical component.
Accidental Discharge
Let’s say there is an electrical issue in your car’s lighting system and your vehicle doesn’t turn the lights off after you’ve walked away. Most likely, you’re looking at an accidental discharge when you discover that your car is dead the next day.
At its core, accidental discharge occurs when the car’s internal or external lights remain on even after the engine has been turned off. If you discover that your lights still aren’t turning off even after 30 minutes from when you parked, then there’s likely an electrical issue that should be addressed by a mechanic.
Too many short trips
Every time you turn your engine on, you’re recharging your car’s battery. However, taking multiple short trips may not provide the time needed for the engine to start the process of recharging the battery. Not giving the battery time to recharge may cause it to run out of energy and die.
So, if you find yourself on a lot of short trips (especially if they’re back-to-back), opting for a few longer trips to switch things up will likely give your battery time to recharge and solve the issue.
Corroded, dirty, or loose battery connections
The connections wiring your battery to the rest of the engine may come loose or become corroded and dirty over time. When this happens, the battery can’t send power to the rest of the car.
To avoid this problem, it’s important to stay on top of regular maintenance and clean and/or tighten the battery connections as soon as you spot them gathering dirt.
Upgrades or modifications using electrically taxing components
It’s fun to upgrade your engine! At the same time, it’s important to not deck your wheels out with too many electrically taxing components.
What these components do is increase the overall voltage being drawn from your battery. If too much energy is drawn every time you turn the engine on, it is much harder for your battery to remain adequately charged.
Some common components that may be taking a toll on your battery include heavy-duty sound systems, extremely bright headlights, or turbochargers that your engine can’t handle.
Age
One of the most common reasons out there is also the most intuitive—the older your car battery is, the harder it becomes for the battery to hold a charge.
Especially if your battery quickly dies after being jump-started, it’s likely time to get the battery replaced. Generally, car batteries last anywhere from two to five years.
Extreme temperatures
If you live in extremely cold or hot climates, then you’re likely familiar with the toll temperatures take on car batteries. Newer batteries are often more temperature-resistant but are still at risk for this problem.
Keep an eye out for a pattern—if your battery dies every time the temperatures soar or dip, then you may need to visit an auto mechanic to have them take a look at your battery.
Faulty charging system
Last but not least, the engine’s charging system may be the cause of your dying car battery. This problem is frequently caused by a faulty alternator which is the essential piece in helping the battery charge while the engine is running.
When this piece breaks, the battery can’t restore its energy. To diagnose and treat this problem, you’ll need to head to an auto mechanic to get their help addressing the issue.
How to keep your car’s battery from dying
Now that you know the common causes that may be killing your car battery, there are some simple preventative steps you can take.
One of the easiest is to check to make sure the headlights, dome lights, dashboard lights, and other accessories are completely shut off after turning off your engine.
It’s also important to keep up with your maintenance. Simply ensuring that each battery cell is filled with the correct amount of electrolytes and topped off with distilled water can prolong your battery’s life.
Not sure how much electrolytes and/or water your battery needs? Since each battery is different, it’s best to ask your auto mechanic, do a quick online search, or reference the manual that came with your battery to brush up on proper care.
Another key part of routine maintenance is checking the battery cables for signs of corrosion. If you spot any corrosion, dirt, or loose connectors, carefully clean and tighten them.
Here’s a look at how to prevent some other specific problems:
- If you live where it gets extremely cold during the winter, consider a battery tender. This device also works well if you don’t plan on driving your vehicle for an extended period.
- If you think a parasitic drain is an issue, perform a quick DIY check by disconnecting one of the battery cables and looking for an electric flow—a multimeter is good for this task (only use the multimeter’s highest amperage setting).
- If age is your issue, then you’ll need to replace the battery entirely. It’s best to visit the pros since it’s a technical process. Knowing that installing a new car battery will set you back anywhere from $45 to $250, depending on the power, size, and quality of your car.
Key Takeaway Most of the problems that keep draining your car battery can be avoided with routine maintenance. For specific problems like temperature, parasitic drains, or age, you may need to visit a mechanic for help treating the problem.
Does car insurance cover car battery replacements?
It depends—if it’s just normal wear and tear that’s causing your battery to malfunction,
your insurance
will not cover the battery replacement costs. However, if the battery was damaged in a collision or a natural disaster, then the cost of the new battery may be covered by your insurance policy depending on your coverage level.
Generally, it's less expensive to pay for the battery replacement yourself than trying to file an insurance claim, especially since you’ll need to hit your deductible amount before the insurance provider will reimburse you.
How to get the best car insurance without the hassle
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FAQs
How long can a car battery sit before the battery dies?
It depends. The general rule of thumb is that the battery may die if left unused for four weeks to two months. However, if your battery is already in poor condition or you live in extremely hot or cold temperatures, it will likely die sooner rather than later.
How often should I drive my car to keep the battery charged?
If possible, driving your car at leastonce a week for 30 minutes is best for keeping the battery in shape. However, if you do a lot of short trips (like frequent 5-10 minute drives), your battery won’t have enough time to recharge regularly.
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