Battery Keeps Dying
My battery keeps dying and I don't know why. I first replaced both the battery and alternator. Was fine for a couple of months and then started dying every day again. I turned in my battery for a new one because the fluid level was low. Was fine for a month, started dying again. I've done several parasitic drain tests, nothing comes up. So I had my mechanic friend check out my car, and he took out my alarm wire (which we thought would be draining my battery because my alarm was going off sometimes for no reason) and charged my battery for a little bit, then my car was fine for a month
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
There are three possibilities, to start with: 1) there is a voltage drop in the wiring between the alternator and the battery; 2) the "parasitic" power draw occurs while the car is running, not so much while it is off, thus overwhelming the alternator and consequently the battery is not being fully re-charged; 3) there is a parasitic power draw when the car is off but to pick it up requires data logging. With regard to these possibilities, if you desire that the required diagnostic steps be performed by a certified mechanic, please simply request an electrical circuit/charging system diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
While there is no single solution for all Honda Civic battery drain problems, the most common cause is a bad alternator. If you`re seeing your battery light come on while driving—and before you parked—you could need a new alternator.
“Electrical devices or lights left running, a defective charging system or alternator, and extreme weather are some common reasons but maybe it`s just time to get a new battery.”
Using a test switch and digital ammeter is the simplest, most accurate way to measure parasitic drain directly. A test switch goes between the negative battery terminal and negative battery cable.
If your battery has died, there won`t be enough power left in it to crank the starter properly. This problem can usually be best identified by the sound that the car makes when you attempt to start the engine. Your battery could be dead if, when you turn the key, the starter clicks sound laboring and slow.
If you know your battery`s good and there`s no obvious reason it`s dying, the alternator and charging system could be at fault. When alternators fail and need replacement, the battery won`t stay charged for long.
The batteries connectors can jostle loose sometimes or terminals might corrode. This will either cause the engine to shut down completely or the battery won`t fully transmit power. To solve this problem tighten your connectors. However, corrosion related problems require you to clean the battery regularly.
The ignition relay is essentially an electrical device that works as a switch for the power to the ignition system. Its job is to make sure electricity flows from the battery to the different components that need power. A bad relay will drain your battery and make it difficult to start the ignition.
If your phone`s battery is draining faster than usual, it either means you`re using a lot of energy or your phone is not using energy efficiently. This could mean you`re overworking your phone by running too many applications, or something is physically wrong with the phone battery itself.
The short answer is: Yes, it can. It could also drain the battery even faster if you repeatedly try to start your car with a faulty starter. A faulty starter is also one of the leading causes of battery overcharging.
How long should you leave the car running after a jump? It`s best to drive the car around or let it idle for at least 30 minutes after you jump-start it. Ideally, you should drive the car around for 30 minutes to allow the alternator to charge the battery to a good level.
If your car charging system isn`t working properly, your battery can drain itself even while you`re driving. Most cars power their lights, radio, and other systems from the alternators which makes the battery drain worse if there`s a charging problem.
On usage, it drains about 7-10% per hour of screen on time, but very very quickly.
When batteries are connected to a vehicle or something else that drains current from them, the discharge process can accelerate significantly. This is especially true for vehicles equipped with car alarms or satellite-based systems that actively look for or maintain a connection, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Old, worn out spark plugs have a harder time creating the spark that actually powers your engine. If your car stalls when you are trying to turn it on, there could be a problem with spark plugs or damaged spark plug wires. The battery is most likely the culprit if your car has no power and won`t start at all.
Issues such as faulty wiring, bad fuses or interior lights that fail to shut off will continue to drain your battery while it`s idle.
No, it`s unlikely that a blown fuse is draining your battery. A fuse is a conduit for electricity. A blown fuse will simply stop a headlight or turn signal from functioning. In some cases, it can lead to an open circuit that draws energy.
The most common causes of excessive parasitic drain include faulty relay switches, malfunctioning alternators, damaged wiring or connections, and electronic devices left connected or powered on when the vehicle is off.
Let someone turn on the ignition key or press the starter button. Observe the light — if it doesn`t turn on, the solenoid is likely failing to transfer power and might need replacement. However, if the light turns on but there`s no clicking sound or starter engagement, the issue lies with the car starter.
Like desktop computers and most other electronics, disconnecting the battery cable for a short period will not fully reset your ECU due to the residual power remaining in the circuits.
For example, will taking off aggressively give it more bottom-end power, etc? A. It depends on the car`s age and type of ECU used. On some older cars, disconnecting the battery will reset the system but in most new cars it does nothing, except potentially reset the clock and radio station presets.
A fully charged battery should register at 12.7 volts or more. If the voltage falls below this number, the battery should be recharged. A battery is only charged by one quarter at just 12 volts. Once it drops to 11.9 volts, your battery is considered dead.
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Car Battery? If you have jump-started your car, it is recommended to let your vehicle run for at least 30 minutes because it would typically require at least half an hour to charge a dead battery entirely or at least sufficiently.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Battery keeps dying for no apparent reason
ANSWER : Hello. If the battery and alternator are fine then I would test the ignition switch. It will commonly stay on and cause this. If it is fine, then an amperage draw test needs to be done on the vehicle. If all of the electronics are stock, then the issue may be a sticking relay. I have had the main fuse box fail internally and cause this a few times on this vehicle and the amperage draw test will identify this as the issue. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your battery.
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Battery Keeps Dying
ANSWER : There are three possibilities, to start with: 1) there is a voltage drop in the wiring between the alternator and the battery; 2) the "parasitic" power draw occurs while the car is running, not so much while it is off, thus overwhelming the alternator and consequently the battery is not being fully re-charged; 3) there is a parasitic power draw when the car is off but to pick it up requires data logging. With regard to these possibilities, if you desire that the required diagnostic steps be performed by a certified mechanic, please simply request an electrical circuit/charging system diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
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The battery keeps getting drained and dying out
ANSWER : Hello. It is possible that the your 2003 Lexus SC430’s computer is draining the battery during the time that it is not being driven. It is never a good idea to let a car sit for extended periods of time without the engine being run or driven.
If this problem only happens after the car has been sitting for a week or so, this may be caused by something else. Running the engine or driving the car may solve the problem. If it does not, it is also possible that there is a problem with the electric/charging system of your car. If the alternator is faulty and overcharging the battery, it may cause the battery to lose its charge faster than it should. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come and complete an inspection of the electric system in order to properly diagnose your problem and make the necessary repair.
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Battery dies if the car sat for over 20 hours
ANSWER : Batteries that drain overnight are common. Usually when this occurs, there is a parasitic drain on one of the car’s systems. When this occurs it drains the battery down over time. Batteries that are drained down repeatedly can cause them to fail. The most common causes of the battery drain are aftermarket accessories, radio, power windows and seat motors. If you can find the cause of the parasitic drain, a certified mobile technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose your battery and determine what should be done.
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I got a new battery new alternator put in but my battery just gets drained I keep having to buy new batterys
ANSWER : This may be a sign of a failing voltage regulator or potentially a bad grounding problem causing a draw on the system. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. Often times this will result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
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Car battery dying quickly especially after longer driving
ANSWER : It sounds like the alternator is not charging the battery, when are you driving long distances. Running all the accessories and then shutting it off can cause the battery to be too weak to restart the car. If the alternator is intermittently not charging, then you may have other wiring issues or just an intermittent problem within the alternator. Have the charging system checked by a mechanic after driving it and not shutting it off, to see if the battery is being charged. You may also have a body control module issue with extended storage mode. The dealer can check this mode with the special scanner and checking the extended storage fuse is not installed.
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My battery light is on.
ANSWER : The problem is not the battery, but the charging system is not keeping the battery recharged. The alternator is the most common cause of this, though failing battery cables can also be a cause. I would recommend having the battery cables and alternator tested and checked by a mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, who will come to you and diagnose the problem for you. Do not try and drive it or it will leave you stranded from the battery going dead again. The cables to the battery from the alternator may be bad or the alternator is not charging. Only the testing and diagnosis will reveal the problem.
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Has new alternator, new battery when started , motor dies when battery is disconnected…my mechanics are stumped on this
ANSWER : Hello.
If replacing those particular components did not correct the issue then the next thing I would look at is the vehicle’s voltage regulator. It appears that this engine’s electrical system is equipped with an external voltage regulator that functions, or malfunctions, independently of the alternator. The voltage regulator regulates power from the vehicle’s alternator, and can cause issues with the electrical system when it malfunctions. I would test it to see if it is functioning properly. It is a silver box that should be mounted somewhere in the engine bay, usually on a wheel well. A technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to replace your car’s voltage regulator if necessary.
Regards,
Eduardo
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