Car's Battery Drains Too Soon? Here Are The Common Causes & How You Can Deal With Them

A very common problem that people face is that car batteries don't last as long as expected. Here are a few basic things to take care of.

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Have you been facing recurrent issues with your car's battery? A very common problem that people face is that the battery doesn't last as long as expected. Here are a few basic things that can cause the battery to drain excessively and what you need to take care of to get optimum performance out of it.

1. Negligence: The car battery drains overnight because of electronic components that have been left running and there are always those odd chances of leaving an internal light on, not closing the trunk properly or leaving the headlights on. If you often find yourself neglecting such basic things then you may want to start paying more attention as these seemingly small things will be draining the battery.
2. Short Drives: A common advice that holds true – a car’s battery suffers when a car is not being driven often and for a long period. The Alternator recharges the battery when the car is being driven and it needs time to do that. If you are someone who has not been driving very often and even the few times you drive you don’t use the car for long – that is a potential cause of battery not being charged properly. So it is advisable under normal circumstances to use the car properly so that the alternator is able to recharge the battery.
3. Extreme Temperature: Indians are perhaps used to dealing with extreme summers and winters but the same cannot be said about our automobiles. If cars are made to withstand extreme temperatures, it leads to a build-up of sulfate crystals which hampers the process of battery charging. The battery will take longer to charge and/or may not get charged fully. In such a case, using a parking spot that protects the car from direct heat and cold is a good option.
4. Old Battery: Now here’s something that pretty basic – like everything else, the battery goes through wear and tear. If you are aware that it has been long since the battery has been in use and now it's not delivering the backup that it used to, it may be time for you to go for a change.
5. Parasitic Draining: Usually there is a small amount of drain in the battery as there are certain components such as a car's security alert, digital clock and radio settings; that have to work even when the car is not running. But this drain is usually negligible and does not have a major impact. However, if you have been taking care of the basics are still facing major issues. You may have a component in the car that is draining too much battery. In that case, it becomes important to find out which component is causing the drain. An expert can help you determine the problem there.
6. Issues with Alternator: An Alternator recharges the car battery and powers the electronics when a vehicle is running. Issues in the alternator itself or the components around it can cause an excessive drain. In this case too, an expert can help you find the exact issue and resolve it.