The days grow longer and spring flowers bloom. It’s a great time to ensure your car is ready for any spring road trips you may be planning. The long, cold winter takes a toll on your car battery, shortening its lifespan. By the time spring break arrives, your battery may be starting to lose its charge.
Modern vehicles offer drivers various onboard accessories and entertainment, from multimedia players and Bluetooth connectivity to backup cameras, GPS navigation, and heated seats.These bells and whistles elevate the driving experience. However, they also draw power from the battery, even when the engine isn’t running, creating a parasitic drain. If your battery is already declining after enduring scorching summer heat, one parasitic drain may be all it takes to finish it off.
Don’t Fall for These Silent Battery Drains:
1. Headlights Left On
While many modern vehicles automatically turn the headlights off after turning off the ignition, some cars still don’t have this helpful feature. As a result, a fully charged battery can be completely drained of power in just one to two hours if the lights are left on when the engine is powered down.
2. Interior Lights Left On
When your interior light is left on after the engine is turned off, the battery is slowly drained of power. This frequently happens when a door is not fully closed or the glove box or vanity mirror is left open. It also can occur if the trunk is not completely shut. Lastly, it can happen if reading lights were not turned off just before exiting the vehicle.
3. Accessory Socket Plug-Ins
The accessory socket (i.e., cigarette lighter) is a handy spot to plug in phone chargers, radar detectors, air fresheners, dash cams, and other gadgets. The 12-volt outlet is powered by the car battery, even when the ignition is off. If an accessory remains plugged in with the engine off, it continues to draw current from the battery, gradually depleting its ability to start your car.
4. Key Fob
Modern vehicles are opened with the click of a button using a key fob. Some cars even detect when the fob is near, allowing the driver to simply touch the handle to open the door. When the key fob is close, a receiver inside the vehicle wakes up to wait for instructions (e.g., lock or unlock the car, start the engine, open the trunk, etc.). When fob is within 15 feet of your vehicle, the receiver remains engaged. Basically, it’s waiting for your command, slowly discharging the battery.
5. Corrosion
Have you ever seen a powdery white, blue, or green substance on your battery terminals? Batteries contain a combination of chemicals that work to power your battery. When the gas or liquid from these chemicals comes in contact with the metal battery posts, a reaction creates powdery corrosion. This build-up of chemical waste can drain the power out of your battery and shorten its life. This is why it’s important to remove it as soon as you see it.
6. Aftermarket Car Stereos
Car stereos installed by the automaker typically will not drain your battery. However, if you have an aftermarket stereo system, the larger and more powerful the system, the greater the potential for battery drain. Sometimes, aftermarket stereos are installed in a way that the wiring causes the system to continue to draw power even when the car is not in use, resulting in a dead battery.
7. Car Alarms
Like stereos, car alarms installed by the automakers generally don’t cause trouble, but aftermarket car alarms are a different story. If installed incorrectly, they can cause a significant drain on your battery.
When driven under normal circumstances, car batteries have a three-to-five-year lifespan. However, if your battery is reaching the end of its lifespan or has died unexpectedly, AAA is here to help 24/7. Visit our battery website or call (518) 426-1000. A trained AAA Battery Service Technician may be able to come to your home, office, or location of your choice. Then they can run a Battery and Charging System test. They can also jump-start your vehicle or replace your battery on the spot if needed to get you back on your way.
Auto Services with AAA Hudson Valley
AAA membership offers auto services to its members that can make driving as safe and convenient as possible.
