BATTERY DRAINAGE: Some Causes to look for...

By: Carters Towing

Drained car batteries are some of the most frustrating, avoidable, and even dangerous issues that commonly crop up with vehicles and lead to a need for roadside assistance service.

Leaving Lights On Leaving Vehicle Lights on rapidly causes batteries to drain. Some modern vehicles have a feature that automatically turns headlights off, but it’s always a good idea to make sure that all vehicle lights are turned off when leaving your vehicle.

Older Batteries Weak, degraded, or out-of-date batteries will drain quickly and have a harder time holding a full charge. If your car has trouble starting on a consistent basis or won’t work even after a jump start, your car’s battery may have worn out. Replace your car battery every 3-4 years to avoid this.

Broken Charging Systems If the positive and negative battery charging terminals are loose or have been corroded, your battery will have issues transmitting its power to your car. This can cause sudden stall-outs, or permanently damage the electronic components of your vehicle. Prevent corrosion by regularly cleaning battery terminals.

Alternator Problems Alternators recharge batteries and send power to lights, stereo, windows, and A/C. If your alternator has a bad diode, your battery can run out very quickly. It can also cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is turned off, potentially making it so your car won’t be able to turn over and start at all.

Temperature Issues In extremely hot or cold weather, sulfate crystals can build up in your battery, damaging its longevity. It can take longer for car batteries to charge in extreme temperatures, especially if you’re mostly taking short drives. If possible, park your vehicle in a climate-controlled garage.

Parasitic Battery Draining This battery draining is caused by other components in your vehicle continuing to run after the vehicle is turned off. If there’s a poorly installed fuse or wire, the parasitic drain can drain the main battery of the car.

Short Trips If you’re taking only multiple short trips, your battery can charge, as batteries put out the most power when starting a vehicle. Turning off your vehicle before the alternator can recharge can cause batteries to have issues holding a charge (this is most common with older car batteries.) By allowing your car to run for a long time, you can give your alternator and battery more time to recharge.

Carters Towing specializes in vehicle recovery in Ocala, Fl, and can quickly assist you when you’re stranded by the side of the road or otherwise in need of roadside assistance. We’re the foremost authority on all things pertaining to towing and have a long history of providing optimal service to drivers throughout Central Florida. At Carter's towing we strive to deliver fast, affordable services to people who are in need, and at Carter's, we are equipped to handle any vehicle, no matter the issue. Call us 24 hours a day and seven days a week for assistance! Please call us at (352) 245-3123, visit us online @ carterstowingocala.com,

or stop in & see us at:

4125 NE Jacksonville Rd, Ocala, FL 34479 or

8611 SE 126th Pl, Belleview, FL