Car battery that discharges when stationary: what to do?

The battery powers your vehicle's electrical systems. But over time, it wears out and can hold the load worse. A low battery problem when stationary is often a symptom of a worn out battery or vehicle that has not been used for a long time, but an alternator may also be involved.

🔋 What can cause the battery to drain?

The battery is often the reason a car won't start. The car battery charges normally while driving and has Service life from 4 to 5 years average. Of course, some batteries may last longer ... or less!

If your car is stationary for a long time, the battery will slowly discharge until it is completely discharged. But how long does it take to drain a car battery? If you don't drive often, plan to start the engine right away. at least once every 15 days if you don't want to drain your battery.

If you haven't driven your car for several weeks, it's no surprise that the battery is dead when stationary, even if it's new or nearly new. However, it is not entirely normal that:

• You have a battery that discharges regularly;
• You have a battery that discharges while driving;
• You have a car battery that drains overnight.

There can be several reasons why the battery is draining too quickly. Among these explanations, in particular:

• Un poor (over) battery charging : The charging circuit is defective, the battery does not charge properly while driving, or even discharges while driving. This, in part, explains that your new battery is discharging after being replaced because the problem was not with the battery itself, but with its charging system.
• One human error : you closed the door incorrectly or left the headlights on and the battery was depleted overnight.
• One failurealternator : it is he who recharges the battery. It also controls some of the electrical components in the vehicle. Therefore, a generator failure can quickly discharge the battery.
• La abnormal consumption of the electrical system : An electrical problem in a component such as a car radio may cause the battery to discharge abnormally, which then discharges faster.
• Thebattery age : When the battery is old, it is more difficult to recharge and discharges faster.

🔍 What are the symptoms of HS battery?

Your car won't start when you turn the key? Are you having trouble getting started? Here are the signs that your car's battery is dead:

• Le battery indicator on on the dashboard;
• . electrical accessories (radio tape recorder, wipers, power windows, headlights, etc.) malfunctionif at all;
• Le horn does not work or very weak;
• The engine starts and emits pretend to be the beginning failing to really get started;
• Le launch is difficultespecially cold;
• You hear clicking noise under the hood when trying to turn on the ignition.

However, the battery is not necessarily the cause of these symptoms. A startup malfunction may have another cause. Therefore, it is recommended to check your vehicle's battery and diagnose its charging system.

Do not rush to change the battery if the problem is in the circuit - you will pay for a new battery for free.

⚡ How do you know if your car battery is faulty?

You can check the battery with a voltmeter to see if it is defective. Connect the voltmeter to DC and connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the battery, the red cable to the positive terminal. Have someone start the engine and accelerate a few times while you measure the voltage.

• Battery voltage from 13,2 to 15 B : this is the normal voltage for a charged battery;
• voltage more than 15 V : This is an overload on the battery, usually caused by a voltage regulator;
• voltage less than 13,2V : you probably have a problem with the generator.

There are also commercially available car battery testers. Available for a few euros, they consist of indicator lights that light up to indicate battery voltage and also allow you to check the alternator.

Now you know why your car's battery discharges when stopped and how to make sure it is working properly. Remember to replace the battery periodically. Also, have a professional mechanic check the charging circuit as the battery cannot be held responsible for your failure!