Habits that can be Draining your Car’s Battery

When you’re stranded with a dead battery, a lot of things run through your mind. You might wonder what you could have done differently. You might race for ways to remedy the situation. Regardless, it’s not a fun place to be.

In hopes of avoiding such a scenario, understanding these habits can help you extend battery life.

If you’re looking for a new or used Toyota then visit us today at East Coast Toyota, and if your Toyota needs service then stop by the East Coast Toyota Service Center.

Short Drives

Your battery drains a little bit every time you start the engine to your vehicle. While the engine is running, the alternator recharges the battery. For newer batteries, short drives aren’t much of an issue, but as the battery ages, it takes longer to recharge.

Very short drives will reach a point where they don’t recharge as much electricity as they consume. If you regularly drive short distances, kill the engine and then drive back, you’re pushing the limits of what your battery can sustain. If you’re noticing that your battery doesn’t seem to hold as much as it used to, avoid drives under five minutes until you can get the battery tested.

Leaving Lights On

We all know that leaving your headlights on is one of the top things that will drain your car battery. Most cars these days have features that help you avoid this problem. Unfortunately, there are lights throughout a vehicle that you can leave on that aren’t your headlights. If a door doesn’t close all the way (trunks and hatches are big culprits), a light might stay on for a long time, even indefinitely. Some cars will automatically kill all of the lights after a few minutes, but if this is a persistent issue, it can shorten the life of your battery. More to the point, this drain will matter more as your battery ages.

Leaving the Car in the Elements

We don’t always have a choice when it comes to leaving a vehicle out in the open air, but it’s still important to understand what is happening. Extreme weather can damage a battery and shorten its life. When the temperature is over 100 degrees or under 10 degrees, the extreme temperature can cause a build-up of crystals on the battery. As you can imagine, those crystals are not good for performance.

When possible, parking under coverings or in a garage can go a long way. Also, short drives are much harder on your batter in extreme weather conditions.

Running Everything While Parked

 As long as the engine is rotating, the alternator is doing its job, and the battery should be fine. But, if you turn off the car and sit with things running — maybe while your passenger runs into the store for a quick errand — your battery is draining. It’s nice to have the fan blowing and the music playing, but what can drain a car’s battery more than running multiple devices while the engine is off? In isolation, doing this one time doesn’t hurt the battery. When you do it frequently, the damage adds up and the battery will struggle.

This is one of several reasons why your AC shuts off when a start-stop system engages at a traffic light.

Never Cleaning Under the Hood

You have probably heard of this before, but there’s no harm in reinforcing the knowledge. Battery terminals and cables can corrode over time. A buildup of corrosion or dirt interferes with the electrical connection, and it can prevent your battery from charging correctly while the engine runs.

Even new batteries need to be cleaned from time to time. You can actually clean your entire engine a few times a year for great effect.

Takeaways

To keep your battery running efficiently, be sure to avoid:

• Leaving your lights on.
• Driving short distances daily.
• Leaving your vehicle in the elements, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Every car battery drain solution above will help your battery, but there will come a time when it needs service or replacement. When that happens, East Coast Toyota is here to help. You can call for an appointment or stop by. We’ll look at your battery and take care of whatever your vehicle needs.