An automotive battery mainly operates the ignition process, which assists in relaying the first-moment electrical surge necessary to start the car. From here, the vehicle may or may not derive additional power from the battery but gets an alternate supply when the vehicle is not in use.
The electrical power consumed by the vehicle is fed back to the battery through the alternator to keep it charged and available for use. The alternator charges the battery by providing it with electrical energy while at the same time reversing the chemical reaction.
This procedure is relatively fast, and if the charger info supplied is correct, there should be no need for the car battery to charge very often manually. However, if you realize that your battery dies in short intervals, then there might be several factors. Well, why does the car battery keep draining? Here is the list of things that may cause your battery to die and the solution.
Causes Of Car Battery Drainage
Here are the significant reasons why car batteries are dead:
1. Parasitic Drain
Drainage through parasitic loads is also capable of killing a battery. It results from a short circuit or an electrical device that stays switched “on’ when it should be off. Other parasitic drains are bad light switches in the glove box or a faulty light switch under the hood or in the trunk. A defective switch can make these lights come on at the wrong time, and fail to have the decency to switch them off.
Late-model cars come equipped with clocks, radio station presets, security systems, computer modules, and other electronics that draw power from the battery all the time. While these loads are considered regular drains, if your car is not used for a few weeks and left standing still on a two- or three-year-old batter, the voltage will likely drop so low as to prevent the engine from turning over. Some commonly installed audio amps, lights, and power inverters can drain the battery and wreak havoc on a car’s sensitive electrical systems.
Also Read: Can Car Brakes Catch Fire?
2. Defective Alternator
An alternator charges the car’s battery every time the vehicle is in motion and supplies power to car accessories continuously. If the alternator goes wrong, you may hear unusual noises, observe flickering lights, or any other problem in your car. After the alternator gives way, the battery dies, and, at some point, the car dies when one tries to crank it. In this circumstance, you will need to crank your car, enabling the vehicle to produce sufficient power to be driven to car repair shops in Perth.
3. Battery Connections are Loose
The positive and negative terminals connecting to the battery may shake off over time. Such a terminal may also become tarnished or develop a reddish color. If this is a problem where your terminals are loose or corrupted, you may be unable to start the vehicle because the battery can’t transfer power from the battery as it is supposed to. You even risk damaging the inner electronic wiring in your car or truck.
4. Extreme Climatic Conditions
Car batteries drain most of the time due to climate conditions. Humidity affects batteries, as well as extreme heat and extreme cold temperatures. The temperature conditions can alter the chemicals within the battery pack. Heat or cold will likely cause reactions that drain the battery after ignition. Besides, it could cause the chemical fluids in the batteries to evaporate due to high heat. As for the battery power necessary to start the car in cold conditions, that is twice the normal levels consequently.
5. Age and Usage
A car battery is run down before its normal cycle due to the age and usage of the particular battery. However, batteries have a limited lifespan or road performance like other car parts and will consequently begin deteriorating.
Generally, the car battery life lasts 3-5 years, depending on climate, usage, and frequency. Cars that are charged frequently and used more often are likely to have more extended-lasting batteries than cars with frequent energy storage.
The performance of a battery degrades when its components demonstrate wear and tear, thus affecting its charge. High temperatures and fluctuation, to an even greater extent, may also contribute to this process. That way, investing in a new battery when your current brand is several years old and living in a freezing winter or hot summer area could also affect the general lifespan.
How To Avoid Your Car Battery From Discharging
Here are a few general battery care guidelines to ensure your battery is well taken and may last longer than expected.
1. Clean Battery Connections
In the following areas, to avoid corrosion-related problems, it is recommended that you check the battery terminal for corrosive formation and wash them using baking soda and water. If you are still trying to figure out how to clean the battery terminal, let the Perth car repairs professional do it for you.
2. Notice Warning Signs
It is wise to look at the dead car battery sign. Some of the signs include quicker engine cranking and slow charging, whose signs include a slower cranking sound when starting the engine, poor lighting or headlight, and other charging system warnings like a battery warning light in your dash. If the above mentioned problems are handled promptly, a complete battery failure may not occur.
3. Investing in Trickle Charger
A trickle charger charges the car’s battery at the same current and rates your battery to be drained using the battery regulator when idle. This protects the battery from developing a flat surface if the car has been parked for an extended period. This is especially useful for a second or ‘weekend’ car that perhaps you leave to gather dust for a week or so and other occasions.
4. Continue Driving
There are also ways to restore the battery charge to a car, including frequent driving. The alternator maintains the battery healthy every time the engine runs for the vehicle. The battery is charged conveniently, depending on the type of car, through long, steady drives at highway speeds. If your vehicle is parked long, drive it at least once a week to prevent the battery from discharging.
5. Turn Off Lights While Not in Use
Only leave your car after confirming that all inside lights and other electronic accessories are switched OFF. You will also want your trunk and doors to be closed when they are not used to save gas or energy, as the case may be. It is always good to create the following simple habits to help avoid any avoidable strain on the battery and extend its durability.
Cost of Average Car Battery Replacement in Australia
The cheapest available car battery replacement prices are from a standard car battery. The car battery cost falls somewhere in the range of 100 dollars and 150 dollars. This means that the premium cost of a new car ranges between $175 and $450, and some car batteries will range between $1000 and above. As the quality of batteries increases, they will last longer and deliver better and more stable current. Some premium batteries can even last up to six years or far much longer than that.
Also Read: How Much Does Car Battery Replacement Cost In Perth?
Conclusion
When it comes to avoiding battery drains and ensuring the health of your car, we as being one of the best car mechanics in Perth offer more than excellent services. Given that we offer exclusive car battery replacement services with great brands, we are here to provide the audience with a beautiful, reliable experience in dealing with their battery issues—let us help you move around without stress and be continuously powered.
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