why does my car battery keep dying when i don't drive it

A dirty battery top can leak voltage between the terminals draining the battery when not in use. I only have 90k miles on it and it is a good car.

9 Reasons Why Your Car Battery Keeps Dying Vehiclecare Blaze

Sometimes the memory wire the one to your radio which saves radio stations and other user data has 12v on it even when the car is.

. Locate your battery which is usually on the right side of your engine compartment. October 9 2012-- A friend who owns a 2013 Sonata spoke with his dealer in a. The part that recharges the battery is called an alternator.

But faulty wiring defective fuses and improper installation of accessories can cause extreme parasitic drain which is one of the major causes of why your battery keeps dying all the time. Up to 25 cash back The problem started a year ago when I left the inside dome light on in the car over night. A weak or dead battery cant provide the power needed to get the engine started.

However if this isnt the case theres some other mischief going on. If you do not have a sealed battery remove the battery caps and top off the battery cells about 12- to one-inch from the top of the battery with distilled water. One of the major culprits is its simply an old battery.

The average lifespan of a car battery is only four to six years so if youre in that range or over its probably time for a new battery. Car batteries are designed to be charged by the alternator as they move along so if its sat on your driveway for an extended period of time the electrical systems such as the alarm will drain the charge. This is because the alternator isnt able to charge the battery properly.

Or your headlights or radio. The solution to this problem is to simply. An often overlooked cause of battery death is infrequent driving.

This is the one thing thats worked AMAZING to get my car battery to keep its charge overnight in cold weather. Luckily most of them can be fixed by simply replacing it. The battery will last a about a week before needing to be recharged with enough power to start the car.

Up to 8 cash back If you do not drive your vehicle very often and when you do it is only a short drive then yes the mechanic was correct. Dirty battery terminals can affect how much power your battery transfers to your starter. When the engine is cool open the hood.

Cheaper than any dealership. If you cannot see the plus and minus signs on the positive and. Some have had the dead battery problem because of a bad cell in the battery faulty battery cables a bad diode in the alternator or even a problem in the cars radio.

I came out and the battery was dead. Also it could be a result of a problem in the electrical system. Look at the battery terminals.

A dead battery after a few days has been a problem on several makes of car not just my 2012 Hyundai Sonata. But over time that changes. Why car batteries die.

If this is the case have a trusted mechanic check your electrical system to rule out the extreme parasitic drain. There are few common causes of regularly dead batteries. Yes as we have mentioned above any problem with the alternator directly attacks the efficiency of the battery it also causes draining of the car battery due to overcharging the voltage regulator also does not work properly due to overheating of the battery because of excessive power given to it.

If youre too busy during the workweek and cant get to it until youre off some short term fixes are to disconnect the battery at. A weak or poorly maintained battery is usually the main reason a battery dies. Forgetting to turn off your headlights.

If you run your vehicle properly and on a regular basis keeping your car battery charged isnt something you have to think much about. Your car battery will eventually die if you dont drive it regularly. A failed diode in the alternator creates a closed circuit that drains your battery even when the engine is off.

I took it to the Lexus dealer and they said it was the battery. If you dont drive your car often the battery will slowly die. Your car battery dies for one of three general reasons.

If you start the car and then only drive it about five miles or less then you are not recharging the battery sufficiently. The dirtier the terminals the more likely your car wont start. So we know that the battery will suffer through lack of use but how long will it take for the battery to die and.

As you can imagine if it didnt youd need a much bigger battery to travel long distances. The first problem is that the battery is bad and the second problem is that the temperature sensor in your thermostat housing could also be bad. If that dies youre going to have to replace it.

If everything in the electrical system is perfect there is little to no drain on the battery when you are not using the car. Problems with your car battery. Ad Fast car battery installation wherever you are.

If youre not already aware your cars battery normally gets recharged by the engine. I just hate having to charge the battery every month. Oops I did it again The most common cause of battery drain is human error ie.

If I drive it every day I dont have any problems. Im not a professional. North Americas Largest Battery Store.

When your car battery keeps dying but the alternator is good then you may have two problems going on at the same time.

Should I Recharge Or Replace My Dead Car Battery The News Wheel