The car battery discharges quickly, what should I do?

What should you do if your car battery runs out quickly?

Which motorist has not found himself in an unpleasant situation with a dead battery? You open the car, get in, turn on the ignition and... nothing. The battery died and the car became completely useless. Again, look for another car to light the battery or drag it home to recharge. Again, a lot of nerves were spent, being late for work or an important meeting. A familiar situation, isn't it? So, why does the car battery drain so quickly? We will look into this in this article.

Reasons for rapid battery discharge in a car and what to do

There are four main reasons for rapid battery drain:

Battery. Natural wear and tear of the battery or its premature failure;
Generator. Due to a malfunction of the generator, the charge when the car is moving may be absent or insufficient to fully charge the battery;
On-board network. Worn wiring or current leakage in the electrical equipment of the machine can lead to rapid battery discharge;
Driver. Often the car driver himself becomes the reason why the car battery quickly runs out.

Worn or faulty battery

You can check the battery for serviceability at a service center or yourself.

A load fork is used for this. This is a device that includes a voltmeter and a load resistance. The load fork simulates the situation with the battery that occurs when the engine starts.

If you have such a device, you can check the battery yourself. First, check the battery voltage without load. It should be at least 12.7 volts. This corresponds to 100 percent charge. After this, to check the condition of the battery, you need to measure it with a load.

Load the battery using the device's resistance, wait 5 seconds and take voltmeter readings. On a working battery, the voltage value should be at least 10.2 volts. If the battery shows a voltage of more than 12.7 volts without a load (that is, fully charged), and the load test does not pass, then it’s time to get ready to buy a new one.

Below is a video demonstrating how to test a battery with a load fork.

There may be several reasons why a battery becomes unusable. Here are some of them:

Sulfation of plates;
Short circuit;
Shedding of active mass;
Causes related to electrolyte.

Sulfation

In general, sulfation is a natural process during battery operation. This is the deposition of lead sulfate (PbSO ₄ ) on the electrodes during a chemical reaction in the battery during its discharge. During the charging process, part of it dissolves, and part remains on the plates. As a result, the battery capacity gradually decreases and the need to replace it arises. But when sulfation occurs on a new battery, the reason may lie in improper use of the battery. Such incorrect actions include the following:

Frequent battery discharge to zero;
Poor quality electrolyte;
Operating a battery with exposed plates (reduced electrolyte level);
Incorrect battery charging with high current.

High levels of plate sulfation can cause the car battery to discharge very quickly.
This happens because sulfation “eats” its capacity. If the battery is still new (up to a year), then you can try to desulfate the battery or restore a car battery in the general case. If this battery has already been working for 3-4 years, then it would be wiser to buy a new one. Return to content

Short circuit

A short circuit can be caused by both improper operation and manufacturing defects. The reason for this phenomenon is the short circuit of plates of different polarities.

A short circuit can be diagnosed by intense “boiling” of the electrolyte and a drop in voltage at the battery terminals. The total battery capacity is also reduced. Reasons why a short circuit may occur:

Violation of the integrity of separators;
Warping of plate grids;
Formation of growths on the electrodes;
Entry of foreign elements into the battery;
Sludge at the bottom of the battery.

Shedding of active mass

When using a car battery, shedding of the active mass of the plates occurs gradually. This process can be accelerated by increased shock and vibration loads. For example, when driving off-road. Accumulating at the bottom of the battery, crumbled active mass can cause a short circuit of plates of different polarities.

Shedding of the active mass of the electrodes

But even if this does not happen, shedding will reduce the performance of the battery. In particular, these are capacitance and inrush current. As a result, the capacity is reduced so much that the battery practically does not gain a charge and quickly runs out. As you understand, only replacing the battery with a new one will help here.

Below you can watch a video about the shedding of the active mass of the plates:

Causes related to electrolyte

There can be two problems with the electrolyte: a decrease in the level due to water consumption and a density that does not meet the norm. These problems are fixable, but it is necessary to monitor the condition of the battery and carry out regular maintenance. You must check the electrolyte level and not allow it to drop below the top level of the plates. In general, the normal level is 10-15 millimeters above the surface of the electrodes. In the hot season or when overcharged, the electrolyte may boil away. You can read about why the car battery boils and the reasons for this phenomenon in the article at the link.

Checking the electrolyte level in banks

The density of the electrolyte should be monitored with a hydrometer. With increased density, everything is quite simple ─ add distilled water. The reason for water consumption is often the electrolysis process, and in the summer heat, evaporation is also added.

But if the density is low and the battery is fully charged, then you will have to tinker with bringing it back to normal.
It is necessary to select the old electrolyte, gradually diluting it with a new one with a density of 1.27-1.29 g/cm 3 . In this case, the electrolyte must settle for mixing and then measure. If the density is insufficient, then everything repeats itself. Return to content

Problems with the generator

After you have verified that the battery is in good working order and charged, you should turn your attention to the generator. The problem with it is that it may not charge the battery or provide a charge insufficient to restore the battery capacity. In this case, after parking the car for a short time, you will have to think about how to start the car if the battery is dead.

If the generator does not charge the battery, then you should contact a car electrician to find out the reasons. There it will become clear what the reason is, and also whether to change it or repair it.

In the second case, the generator does not produce enough electrical energy. One of the reasons for this may be a loose alternator belt. It is very easy to diagnose. When a car starts with a loose alternator belt, a piercing whistle is heard. This can be corrected by additional tension on the alternator belt. You can easily handle this on your own. You will need a pry bar and an appropriate wrench to loosen and tighten the generator mounting nut.

Adjusting the tension of the generator belt

Problems with the car's on-board network

The reason that the battery drains quickly can be various malfunctions in the vehicle’s on-board network, ranging from faulty or worn wiring to excessively voracious or faulty current consumers.
In this case, a comprehensive check by technicians at a service center using special equipment and tools is required. But there are some things you can check for yourself. Return to content

Checking for current leakage in the on-board network

You will need a multimeter for this procedure. What do you need to do?

On the battery, without removing it from the car, remove the negative terminal;
Set the multimeter to 10 A current measurement mode;
Connect one multimeter probe to the negative terminal, and the second to the negative current terminal of the battery (it doesn’t matter where you connect the red and black wires);
Record the current value.

Before measuring, you need to turn off all ignition and consumers (heating, lighting, music). Everything should be turned off. In this condition, the resulting current should not exceed 0.02 amperes.

If you have a higher current, then you need to look for the problematic consumer, disconnecting them from the network one by one. If the “culprit” of this leak is not found, the battery will quickly drain overnight.

Below you can watch a video about checking current leakage on a car:

Driver errors

If the car owner is inexperienced, then he himself can perform actions that lead to the fact that the car’s battery quickly runs out. The main ones include:

Banal forgetfulness. They forgot to turn off the headlights, the music, the light in the trunk, etc. And after parking at night, the battery was dead;
Travel mode. If you drive your car to the store, which is five minutes away, then your battery simply does not have time to charge. And starting the engine at home and at the store sucks energy from the battery;
They don't take care of the battery. The battery needs periodic attention. Then, at a minimum, you will be ready to discharge it.

Have you asked yourself whether you need to charge a new car battery after purchase? By following the link you can read an article on this topic.

How to prevent battery drain?

In order to prevent the car battery from dying out overnight, it needs to be given attention and periodic maintenance.

What should you pay attention to?

Periodically (at least once every 6 months), the battery needs to be recharged from a network charger. Ideally, you need to do a control training cycle;
You need to develop the habit of checking the level and density of the electrolyte (after recharging the battery). This does not apply to maintenance free car batteries (link here);
Keep the electrical wiring, generator, and consumers of the vehicle's on-board network in good condition. Very often, due to leakage current, the battery quickly runs out;
Prevent corrosion of battery terminals and terminals (cleaning, applying a special composition);
Keep the battery clean to minimize self-discharge. If there is dirt on the surface, it turns into a conductive layer and the battery can quickly drain.

If your car battery drains quickly, then traveling becomes a real pain. In the link above you can read about the reasons for this and how to fix them.

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This will help the development of the site. Please leave corrections and additions to the material, as well as your opinion about the rapid discharge of a car battery, in the comments below. Vote in the poll and rate the article. Return to content

Why does your car battery drain quickly and what to do about it?

If your car battery is draining quickly, you should identify the reason why this is happening as quickly as possible.

After all, a person is so attached to a vehicle that he cannot remain without it for a long time. Therefore, as soon as questions arise about technical malfunctions of the car, it is better to immediately eliminate them and enjoy driving every day. In the age of the World Wide Web, car enthusiasts are offered a lot of different useful information even about the smallest car breakdowns. Where is the battery usually located?

What is a car battery

The battery is one of the important parts of the car, which plays a significant role. Without it, your beloved “iron friend” simply will not be able to start, and you will waste your precious time restoring its operation. To do this, every self-respecting motorist should know: what such a part of his car consists of and why it is needed.

A car battery is an electrical device, a so-called car battery, consisting of six two-volt cells that produce 12 volts at the output. All internal elements of the battery are made of lead plates, which are coated with a special active substance and then dipped into the electrolyte, due to which electric current is generated.

A car battery performs three important functions:

engine starting;
enhances the operation of the generator if it is not able to cope with the load;
ensures the operation of electronic devices when the engine is turned off.

Modern battery models are equipped with special indicators showing the charge level and electrolyte density. You can rely on these indicators, but, unfortunately, not 100%, since engineers have not yet come up with more accurate instruments. The car interior also has a battery charging light, which is located on the dashboard. When the driver turns on the ignition, a battery-shaped light comes on and then immediately goes off. If this indicator lights up when the engine is running, then you should check its operation and temporarily not operate the machine , but figure it out yourself or show it to a technical center specialist.

Why does my battery drain quickly?

The lifespan of car batteries ranges from 3 to 5 years, it all depends on the manufacturer, quality and operating conditions. But it happens that the service life of this part drops sharply, which creates a lot of unpleasant moments for drivers. If your battery is draining quickly, you need to start fixing the problem immediately.

Here are the steps you need to take to determine the reasons:

Check car wiring . Often the problem is hidden in the car electrical network, which is “covered up” due to improper installation. To do this, you should carefully inspect all the wiring in the car and make sure that the wires are not oxidized, there are no fractures or abrasions, and also check the integrity of the connecting terminals.
Check battery power . It happens that an already old and weak generator, with an increase in power, cannot be fully charged, and a powerful generator, on the contrary, is recharged with excess energy, which negatively affects its operation and functions.
Battery condition is faulty. When inspecting a car battery, you should pay attention to the color of the electrolyte . If the electrolyte has acquired a dark color, then most likely this is the problem; in this case, the plates peel off, which requires immediate replacement of the battery.
should be checked . The generator is needed to constantly recharge the battery; if it charges poorly, then you should definitely check it. Most likely, recharging does not occur due to its malfunction or due to a poorly tensioned alternator belt.
The car battery does not match your car model. There are cars in which manufacturers install low-quality batteries that produce too little power, and therefore they are often not enough for the full amount of work.
Battery overcharging is a fairly common problem among car enthusiasts. Occurs due to overheating of the electrolyte inside the box. High temperature reduces the overall electrolyte level, so after such a process the battery becomes inoperative.

Lighting the battery - a way to revive it instantly

Reasons for new battery discharge

However, sometimes it happens that not only a battery that has served for several years, but also a new one can quickly discharge. Having bought a completely new battery, the driver may encounter an unpleasant problem in the form of its rapid discharge. In such cases, be sure to check the electronic wiring of the machine. To do this, you will need a special measuring device - a voltmeter. With this device you can measure and then compare the voltage in the battery and generator. And remember that these measurements should only be taken with the engine running.

If the generator shows a voltage of 14 V, and the battery shows 13.5 V or even less, then this clearly indicates that the battery is undercharged. To eliminate this problem, clean the contacts of the generator and battery.
The voltage at the generator contacts is less than 14 V. Such readings can only indicate a malfunction of the generator itself; in this case, you can independently only determine the length of the generator brushes, which must be at least 8 mm. To solve such a problem, it is better to contact the specialists of an auto center, unless, of course, you have excellent knowledge of automotive electrical engineering.
If the output of the generator has a voltage of more than 14 V, this is too high an indicator, due to which the car battery is overcharged. With such excess voltage, the electrolyte becomes very hot, which leads to its evaporation and, accordingly, to a low electrolyte level.

Sometimes you will have to push the car if the problem is not solved

What to do if your battery is dead

A not-so-pleasant moment awaits the driver when, while trying to start his car, he realizes that his battery is dead. What to do in such a situation, where to run and who to call for help?

The most proven method is to call a friend with a car for help or stop a car passing nearby to connect to its battery. But unfortunately, not all cars are able to accept this method of recharging; manufacturers of expensive modern cars often limit access to batteries.
Charger. Car stores sell special devices for charging batteries, which in some cases will help solve your problem. To do this, the battery is connected to this device, and it, accordingly, is connected to the electrical network. Then the current is set equal to 10% of the battery volume, for example, if the battery is 60 A, then a current of 6 A is needed to charge. Before charging the battery, you must unscrew the plugs and follow the arrow that indicates the charge volume.
Start the car from a pusher or ask another car to tow your car.
Buying a new battery is the easiest, but, unfortunately, quite expensive way.

Some Helpful Tips to Extend Battery Life

At the end of this article, I would like to give a few recommendations that will certainly help you increase the life of your battery and prevent such problems when, for example, the battery discharges quickly.

Do not forget to turn off the lights , and also check that the alarm and other electronic devices are connected correctly. This is one of the reasons when, in the morning, leaving the house, the driver realizes that his battery is dead due to his forgetfulness and inattention.
For those who often sit in traffic jams, you should know that the generator recharges the battery at rpms above 1500. Therefore, it is advisable to turn off connected electronic devices 30 minutes before a complete stop .
If you want to leave your car unattended for a long time, you can disconnect the battery for a short time . This method is often used in winter, when the air temperature drops to very low levels.

At the end of our article, I would like to wish car enthusiasts always good batteries and a pleasant ride. If you have questions or additions, please leave a comment on this article.

Why does a car battery drain quickly?

Working day. Early morning. You are already a little late for work, you get into the car and want to start it, but... The engine does not start, even the starter does not turn, and the instrument panel is not illuminated as brightly as it should be. The cause of the problem is the battery is dead.

Removing and charging the battery will not fully solve the problem of car performance, because the fact that the battery is dead is a consequence of another problem. It is necessary to identify the cause of the discharge.

Interesting! The battery tends to lose its capacity over time if the car is not used. Therefore, if the vehicle stood motionless for a long time, the discharge occurred naturally.

In all other cases, it is necessary to diagnose the electrical equipment of the vehicle, after which we will identify one of the problems:

broken attachment belt or insufficient tension;
generator failure;
unsuitability of the battery;
loss of electric current in the car system circuit.

Why does the battery run out?

The stated order of faults determines the sequence of actions during diagnostics. Let's find out why the battery runs out.

Problems in the drive of vehicle attachments

In any car service, if there was a report that the battery had quickly run out, the technician would raise the hood of the car and begin checking for the presence of an attachment belt. This rubber product drives the generator pulley by transmitting revolutions from the engine through the crankshaft pulley.

The belt could dry out and crack, which could lead to its breakage under mechanical stress. The belt can also cut off. This happens when there is a lack of alignment of the pulleys to which it transmits mechanical stress, or because one of the pulleys may jam.

Insufficient tension on the attachment belt will cause it to slip. Then the revolutions of the crankshaft pulley are transmitted to the generator in less quantity. Accordingly, this unit will produce less electric current, which will not be enough to maintain the correct operation of the machine’s electrical system.

The electrical equipment will consume the missing energy from the battery, which will lead to a rapid discharge. The solution to the problem is to mechanically tighten the belt with a tension roller or replace it (if the tension mechanism is automatic).

Each car service station will undertake to replace the mentioned parts. Of the spare parts offered, experts recommend choosing CONTITECH, DAYCO, Gates for belts and INA for rollers. Car manufacturers such as Opel, Renault, Audi and others have confirmed the quality of these products and install them when assembling cars.

Faulty generator

A light on the instrument panel will help you detect the failure of the generator in a timely manner, which signals the absence of direct current supplied from the unit. On most cars, the operating principle of this “informant” is as follows: the engine starts using current from the battery.

After the engine starts running and drives the generator components through a belt drive, the windings begin to generate current. After the rotor winding reaches the required rotation speed, the generator switches to self-excitation and the need for supplied current from the battery disappears. At this moment the indicator goes out.

But in case of overcharging or slight undercharging, the light on the instrument panel of the car will remain silent. Failure of the diode bridge results in overcharging of the battery.

Also, over time, the relay-regulator and diodes may lose their parameters (sag). As a result, the generator produces a current of a lower rating than specified in the tolerance standards and does not restore the battery parameters. Required direct current 13.8 - 14.4 V.

The indicator depends on the condition of the brushes and commutator in the generator (the quality of their contact) and on the consumed load (interior heater, air conditioner, presence of a subwoofer and additional equipment, high beam).

On some car models, the level of voltage supplied from the generator is controlled by the engine control unit. The supplied current from the generator may be below 13.8 V. After repairing or replacing this unit, there are frequent complaints: “The charge began to float.”

The blinking light and charge will stabilize after 50 km. mileage, when the engine control unit determines the optimal idle speed, because the generator began to provide more resistance and slow down the engine through a belt drive.

Important! A large number of installed additional equipment will require replacing the generator with a more powerful one to produce the required direct current. All calculations and selection of the unit must be done by a specialist!

Generator repairs must be performed by a specialized service center. This way you will eliminate the “gasket” in the form of a standard service station, which will transfer the repair of your unit to its contractor (the same specialized service).

Defective battery

The battery and generator can be combined into one fault point, because the failure of one unit quickly leads to the breakdown of the other. At a car service center, managers say “sweet couple.”

The bulk of rechargeable batteries on the market are lead-acid models. The main characteristic of the battery is the starting current (capacity). Manufacturers are moving away from standards and producing products with improved performance. The difference in operation is noticeable only in northern countries or during cold winters in cases of difficulty starting the engine due to temperature conditions.

After turning the key in the car’s ignition switch (pressing the “START” button), we apply voltage to the car’s starter. This consumes up to 350 Amps of starting current from the battery.

Several unsuccessful attempts to start the engine can quickly drain the battery to zero. If the battery is dead to a critical level, the car will not start either with the help of a starter charger or by lighting a cigarette from another vehicle.

Complete discharge of the battery, constant presence of the battery in a half-charged state and its normal aging cause sulfation. This is the process of chemically converting the plates (electrodes) into lead sulfate, which peels off the grids and falls to the bottom of the battery. This leads to loss of battery capacity. The accumulation of lead sulfate sediment causes the electrodes to short-circuit.

If the battery does not hold capacity (reduces the value of the starting current), then the available Amperes will be enough to start the engine, but the generator will not be able to make up for the missing loss of current.

A dead battery will constantly “ask” for a charge. The generator will operate at its maximum capabilities, servicing the vehicle's electrical equipment and providing a constant charge to the battery. This will lead to overheating of the unit; at a temperature of 110 - 180 °C, the varnish of the three-phase winding of the generator, which acts as an insulator, begins to melt.

After which we get burnout of the winding, diode bridge and relay regulator. Overheating of the generator housing will lead to a crack in it when the housing interacts with moisture. Quite a common problem on Fiat cars. The reason is the technological location of the generator.

Shorting the electrodes will result in the battery not taking a charge at all. Instant failure when the car battery is completely discharged is typical for the manufacturer Bosch.

Sulfation will also occur quickly when acid is absorbed into the plates. There is no need to add electrolyte to the battery being serviced. This will quickly destroy the battery. The problem is solved by periodically removing the battery from the car and charging it with a special device.

Important! Periodically, once every 3-4 months, the battery should be removed from the car and charged with a charger at low currents for 15 - 20 hours at room temperature.

Car wiring problems

If checking the attachment belt and measuring the characteristics of the battery and generator do not reveal the cause of the malfunction, then you need to look much deeper. The battery may quickly discharge or not take a charge due to a break in the electrical wiring or due to oxidation of the contacts on one of the connections. You can start by checking the terminals on the battery, and finish by dismantling the dashboard or car interior.

But you shouldn’t blindly look for a leak. We connect the ammeter to the battery and measure the electric current leakage in the car with the engine turned off. Allowable loss values due to wire resistance should be between 20 and 50 mA (milliamps).

If the tolerance standards are exceeded (one wiring harness begins to consume more), then we identify which of the systems has a leak. To do this, remove the fuses from the engine compartment one by one.

The absence of a fusible element will exclude a certain system from the circuit, and when the indicators stabilize, we can understand what we will do after such manipulations.

A break in the electrical wiring and oxidation of the terminals is detected by a tester or by duplicating the wire (we duplicate each wire with our own prepared test sample). Once the cause is identified, it is enough to simply replace part of the wire.

It is more difficult to deal with moisture ingress. Clogged engine compartment drains can direct water into the cabin. Water accumulates under the mats, which leads to a short circuit in the electrical wiring and failure of the control units, which will also lead to a dead battery.

As a driver and owner of a vehicle, you need to understand why your car stopped working (the battery died quickly, the generator failed, whether the belt is in the right place) and what steps need to be taken first. But, knowing only the basics in this topic, you shouldn’t take on everything yourself. Everyone should mind their own business, turn to professionals. Remember that periodic vehicle diagnostics will identify the problem in time, which will prevent the situation from worsening and save your money.

From the huge variety of online stores of auto goods, it is difficult for an ordinary person to identify bona fide sellers. When purchasing goods from dubious stores, people are faced with low-quality goods and delays in delivery.

Especially for you, we have selected several trusted online stores with the best prices, where you can purchase batteries of proper quality without any fear.

Why the car battery discharges quickly - determine and eliminate the cause

Many motorists are faced with the problem of rapid battery discharge. What to do if the battery constantly runs out, why does this happen and is it worth buying a new battery? We will try to answer these and other questions in detail in this article.

1 The main reasons for the rapid discharge of the battery in a car

No matter how high-quality and expensive your car’s battery is, in some cases it can quickly discharge and not fully perform its main functions. There may be several reasons for this:

Spent resource. If the battery has been in service for more than 3 years;
Problems with the generator. There is no necessary power for the battery;
Current leakage in the vehicle's on-board network.
Low temperatures. In winter, the battery discharges much faster.

You should know that the average service life of a high-quality and reliable battery is 3-5 years, depending on the operating conditions of the vehicle. With prolonged or frequent use, the battery capacity drops noticeably and this manifests itself in the rapid discharge of the batteries; most often the battery discharges when parked; it usually runs out in a few hours, and if the wear is high enough, it runs out “to zero”, then is completely loses its functionality.

The main reason why a car battery sometimes drains quickly is chemical sulfation. Over time, a certain amount of lead sulfate accumulates on the oppositely polarized battery plates. This reduces the area of interaction between the active electrodes and the electrolyte, which leads to rapid discharge. If the battery in your car has been in use for 3-5 years, and discharge occurs periodically, it means that the battery must be replaced, and no manipulations with it will help. If the battery was working properly, and one day it was discharged, and the battery was purchased recently, then the reason can be corrected, but you should look for it elsewhere.

2 Lack of power from the generator - how to determine and what to do?

Even if the car has a new battery, if there are problems with the power supply system while driving, that is, the generator, it will constantly discharge. To determine whether the generator is the cause of the constant discharge of the battery, you need to check the system with a special multimeter. To do this, start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes. Next, activate the maximum amount of electrical equipment in the car, that is, the radio, headlights, heated mirror glass, interior heating, etc.

After this, connect a multimeter to the battery terminals and measure the network voltage. The standard indicator for a normally operating generator is 13-14.4 Volts. If the reading on the voltmeter is less than indicated, it means that the battery is not receiving the required charge from the power supply system, and the reasons should be looked for in the generator. In this case, the following options are possible:

the generator belt tension has weakened or it has broken;
contacts and wiring are damaged;
failure of the voltage regulator or diode bridge of the generator.

It is quite difficult to independently determine which of the reasons led to the breakdown, so it is better to entrust this to specialists. Of course, you can drive with a problematic generator, but this significantly affects the service life of the battery, and you cannot do without constant additional recharging.

3 Current leakage in the on-board network is a common cause of battery discharge

Another common reason why the battery is constantly discharged is a temporary or permanent current leak when the on-board network is broken. Current leakage can occur in several cases:

contacts have oxidized or the insulation of internal wiring has been damaged;
some electrical devices are not connected correctly;
headlights, side lights, interior or trunk lighting, etc. were left on overnight.

If you are convinced that you did not leave any devices or lights on overnight, and the battery was discharged in the morning, but the generator is working, then the problem is definitely a current leak in the internal network.

Turn on the ignition and turn off all current consumers in the car. Take a multimeter and disconnect the negative terminal from the battery. Now connect the leads from the multimeter to the gap between the negative terminal of the battery and the terminal, this will allow you to measure the current leakage. The leakage rate in this case is considered to be from 15 to 35 Amps. If the indicators are within these limits, then the leakage is considered normal; if they are higher, you should contact an electrician at a car service center who will find the cause of the constant current leakage in the network.

4 Maintaining battery performance at low temperatures

If all electrical elements, including the battery itself, are fully operational, the density is good, and the temperature outside constantly drops below 5-7 degrees, then the battery may discharge due to loss of density. It is known that for one degree of frost, 1 ampere-hour of battery charge is lost, that is, if the capacity of your battery is 70 Am/h, then when the car is parked for several days in the cold, the capacity may completely drop, and in severe frosts the electrolyte may also freeze .

Therefore, for normal and uninterrupted operation of the battery in winter, experts recommend constantly maintaining a certain, preferably maximum, charge level. Also in winter you can slightly increase the density of the electrolyte. In severe frosts, special battery cases for the car also help, preventing rapid loss of battery capacity overnight while the car is parked, but if the temperature constantly drops below 10 degrees, it is better to take the battery home at night, this way you will definitely prevent its complete or partial discharge.

To extend the battery life in any weather, we also recommend purchasing a portable charger that can charge the battery from a regular household network. In addition, if possible, constantly check the electrolyte level on the jars and add distilled water if necessary. It is also advisable to prevent the battery from being completely discharged; if one day the starter starts to turn more difficult, this is the first sign of a decrease in battery charge. In this case, it is better to remove and additionally charge the battery, otherwise the next day it may completely run out.

Reasons why your car battery drains

Every car has such an important element as a battery. Thanks to the battery, the car can start. It provides the car with current for various devices - headlights, electricity supply to the starter, heated rear window, and other functions. There are times when the car battery discharges very quickly (overnight, 24 hours, 2 days) - what to do in such situations? What are the reasons for this device behavior?

The battery can be checked both at home and at a car service center. The only difference is the price and the equipment used. A “load fork” is used to check battery wear.

It allows you to check the battery without load, and under load - the readings of the built-in voltmeter are an indicator of wear (normal):

Checking the value, without load on the battery - for a new, fully charged battery, the value will be at least 12.7 Volts. If the battery shows a higher voltage value, and testing under load does not pass at all, then this means one thing - it’s time to buy a new one!
Load tests: The battery is loaded using the device - you need to wait a few seconds and take readings. For a fully working battery, the minimum voltage is 10.2 V. If the values are different, it means that there are problems with the battery.

Battery in a car

Factors affecting the natural wear and tear of the battery. Criteria that contribute to this:

Find out the charging time of your battery

The shorting of plates of different polarity is also called short circuiting. It is determined by the following signs: “boiling” of the electrolyte, and a “drop” in voltage, a decrease in the capacity of the battery. The way to fix the problem is to simply replace the faulty part (maintained batteries). With low-maintenance and maintenance-free batteries, the situation is more complicated - you need special equipment and knowledge, supported by practice: the malfunction is corrected by passing a larger current through the battery. For people who do not have special knowledge, it is recommended to replace the battery.

Lead sulfate deposits on the electrodes

Electrolyte - there are only two possible problems: a violation of the density, a decrease in the level. Density is controlled by a hydrometer. If the density is high, just add distilled water - this will solve the problem with the low level. If the density is low, then you need to take out the old one and dilute the electrolyte with a new one - a rather difficult task for an unprepared person.

Shedding - in most cases, shedding of the active mass occurs due to increased loads (vibration and shock). This will lead to the possibility of a short circuit, but if a short circuit does not occur, the battery performance will decrease - this will lead to rapid discharge. There is only one solution - replacing the battery.

To slow down natural wear, it is enough to monitor the above indicators - this will increase the service life of the battery.

Another answer to the question “why does a car battery discharge” is a malfunction of the generator - it may not provide the charge necessary to restore the battery capacity. If the generator malfunctions, you must contact an auto electrician.

If the battery is charging, but the charge is not enough to replenish the capacity, the malfunction may be due to insufficient belt tension (a sign of a malfunction is a strong whistle when starting the engine). This can be solved by increasing the belt tension.

Auto electrics

One of the answers to the question: “why does the battery drain quickly in a car” is a problem with the car’s wiring. Causes: worn wiring, possible malfunction of current consumers. To diagnose the problem, you need to contact a car service center for the help of a specialist.

Car electrician dialing

If the problem is not diagnosed in time, there is a high probability that the battery will run out very quickly (overnight, 24 hours, 2 days maximum)

When the driver lacks experience, he can become the culprit for the rapid discharge of the battery. What to do to avoid becoming the culprit of the problem:

It is worth checking the electrical components of the car (headlights, radio, etc.) when parking;
It is necessary to monitor the battery and follow the operating instructions;
Short trips – during short trips the battery does not have time to charge and will run out with frequent use.

What to do if your car battery is dead? You can light a cigarette from a charged battery, or put a dead battery on charge. The listed methods will take up time, which is sometimes sorely lacking. To avoid such a problem, monitor the condition of the battery, and problems with the battery will never arise!