The battery is among the key components for powering your vehicle and keeping it running. And you’ll know it’s on its last legs when your vehicle’s electrical components stop working, or worse, the vehicle won’t start. If you suspect your battery is being drained or discharged, it’s best to take it to a trusted auto repair shop for testing and have it replaced if necessary. Take heed of these five reasons that could cause your battery to run out of juice.

5 Causes of Battery Drain

1. Human Error & Parasitic Drains

One common reason for a drained battery is human error. When you forget to switch off headlights and interior dome lights, it can render your battery dead over time. Before leaving, check the lights and shut the doors properly. If you’ve been religiously turning off lights but still run into battery problems, make sure that electronic accessories like USB chargers and cigarette lighter sockets are unplugged. Trace possible sources of parasitic drains such as glove box and trunk lights, radio, and security alarms that remain up and running, even with the engine shut off.

2. Age

If your battery has reached its three-year mark, it’s already considered old and warrants replacement anytime soon. Have your battery tested periodically in an auto repair shop to check if it can still hold a charge well enough to take you to your destination without sputtering.

3. Extreme Temperatures

Severe temperature changes are among the identified culprits for dead batteries, especially ones that are old, weak, and poorly maintained. Any hidden issues of your battery, including low fluid level or difficulty in holding a charge, tend to be magnified with extremely cold or hot temperatures.

4. Faulty Charging System

Your car battery needs a dependable charging system to power up your radio, lights, and other electrical components while driving. When you have a bad alternator or defective alternator diode that prevents proper charging, it can result in your battery dying sooner than expected without backup power. Expect your car to stall and won’t restart unless your battery is fully charged in an auto repair shop.

5. Corroded or Loose Cables

Batteries have two terminals—one for negative and other for positive—on top connected to cables for charging. Over time, these connections can corrode or loosen which prevent the battery from getting recharged properly. Check them from time to time, scrub off signs of corrosion on the terminals, and tighten as needed to ensure your battery is charged.

At the first signs of battery problems, have it tested with the professionals at Cabarrus Import Service, the premier auto repair shop in Concord, NC. Serving residents and drivers throughout Cabarrus County, NC, their team of highly skilled mechanics has offered outstanding car repair services for over 24 years. Call (704) 793-4122 today or inquire about engine repair via their website.