What is battery discharge when the key is off?
Auto repair

What is battery discharge when the key is off?

Many things in your car continue to work even after it's turned off - radio presets, burglar alarms, emission computers and clocks are just a few. They continue to draw power from the car battery, and the combined load created by these devices is called ignition-off car battery discharge or parasitic discharge. Some discharge is perfectly normal, but if the load goes over 150 milliamps, that's about twice as much as it should be, and you could end up with a dead battery. Loads below 75 milliamps are normal.

What causes excessive parasitic leakage?

If you find that your battery is low in the morning, it's most likely due to something left on. Common offenders are engine compartment lights, glove box lights, or trunk lights that won't turn off. Other problems, such as alternator diodes shorting out, can also cause a car battery to over-discharge. And, of course, if you forget to turn off the headlights, the battery will run out in a few hours.

Whether the problem is with the key or a bad battery, the last thing you want is to find your car won't start, especially on a cold winter morning. However, if this happens, our mobile mechanics can help. We will come to you so that you do not have to worry about the evacuation of your car. We can diagnose your car's battery problem and determine if the problem is ignition off battery drain or something else in your car's charging system.

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