Few occurrences frustrate drivers more than turning the key and then hearing nothing but silence. Failure to activate ignition systems points to a dead battery, whether this is from age, damage or severe power drain leaving it too weak to start the engine. You can stop avoidable battery failures from derailing your daily drive with savvy steps limiting unnecessary electrical draws.
Turn Off Lights
It is easy to accidentally leave dome or map lights flipped on when exiting your vehicle after dark. But extended operation rapidly flattens an otherwise healthy battery unable to recharge with the engine off.
Double check their switch position before closing doors to ensure cabin and cargo area lights are off. Make turning them off the final step of your pre-departure routine to avoid unknowingly triggering avoidable overnight battery drainage.
Unplug Accessories
Many drivers utilize cigarette lighter ports to power GPS devices, phone chargers, mini-fridges or other plug-in accessories during trips. But forgetting to unplug these devices afterwards allows them to continue drawing current for hours or days post-drive.
In time, even small parasitic draws can sap enough power to significantly reduce state of charge. Check all ports for any devices still connected after parking and disconnect them to eliminate sneaky electrical drains. Better still, make unplugging chargers part of your standard arrival routine to break battery-flattening habits.
Resolve Electrical Issues
Small electrical deficiencies or hidden current leaks have cumulative impacts on batteries. Any new electrical issue from a bad alternator diode to shorted stereo speakers or illuminated warning lights constantly work batteries harder during vehicle operation.
Listen closely for buzzing, chattering or whining sounds from your dash or engine bay indicating potential electrical faults. Troubleshoot problems aggressively to pinpoint and resolve faulty electrical components that inexplicably overwork charging systems. The longer such issues linger, the shorter your battery’s service lifespan becomes.
Use Battery Disconnect Switches
Installing a manual battery disconnect switch allows physically cutting all current flow using a convenient dash or trunk switch when vehicles sit unused for weeks or months at a time. The military-grade switches cost as little as $20, providing a direct means of eliminating passive battery drain by non-critical systems until you’re ready to roll again.
Just remember to reconnect power afterwards so critical memory, radio and computer modules reset properly when restarting ignition. The small added step preserves charge for fast starts instead of discovering a dead battery upon returning from lengthy travel stints.
Check Parasitic Draw
You needn’t live with the nagging possibility that something undisclosed is slowly draining your car’s battery between drives. The experts at Clore Automotive recommend using a battery tester or battery load tester following standard procedures to identify any parasitic losses. These tests help determine if your battery’s state of charge is being compromised by hidden drains.
Parasitic loss tests are best conducted after the vehicle has sat overnight with all doors closed and systems inactive. Using a battery tester, begin a timed test and check the results after five to seven hours. If the tester shows measurable milliamp or voltage loss, it confirms that an undisclosed system is drawing power even when the vehicle is off.
To isolate the cause of excessive drains, deactivate suspect fuses or electronic modules methodically. Address issues such as malfunctioning sensors, control units, or voltage converters that may require repair or replacement to prevent unnecessary battery discharge. For emergencies, keeping a car battery jump starter on hand can be invaluable to get your car running if parasitic losses have fully depleted the battery.
Conclusion
Applying preventative maintenance steps that protect battery charge retention and conditioning system function means you shield against unexpected breakdowns. Monitor your car battery’s state closely rather than just expect it to work indefinitely despite mounting electrical system strains over time. Attentive battery care will allow you years of worry-free mobility.
