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Car Care Tips: Sudden failure of the car or frequent depletion of the battery can cause problems for any vehicle owner. Many people ignore this problem and take the help of jump start again and again, but doing so can increase the problem in the long run. If the battery is discharging frequently, there may be a technical reason behind it.

It is important to find out the cause of the problem in time. Let us know about the 5 main reasons for car battery going down again and again.

1. Corrosion on battery terminals
Rusting of battery terminals is one of the common reasons for battery discharge.

What causes the problem: Over time, a white or green layer can form on the battery terminals, which is called corrosion.

What is the effect: Due to corrosion, the flow of current between the battery and the car’s electrical system is affected. Due to this, the battery is not able to charge properly and may go down quickly.

What to do: Get the battery terminals cleaned from time to time and also check that the battery cables are not loose.

2. Alternator malfunction
The alternator works to charge the car’s battery while the engine is running. In such a situation, if there is a fault in it, the battery does not get adequate charging.

What’s the problem: If the alternator is not generating the correct voltage, the battery will not charge properly even while driving.

What is the effect: The car slowly continues to run on the power present in the battery and after some time the battery may get completely discharged.

What to do: Get the alternator’s charging voltage and system checked by a skilled mechanic.

3. Parasitic drain
Sometimes even after the car is turned off, some electrical systems continue to draw power from the battery. This is called parasitic drain.

What causes the problem: Interior lights, headlights, music system or aftermarket accessories like dashcam, GPS tracker and inverter left on can slowly drain the battery power.

What happens: If the car is parked for a long time, especially overnight, the battery can become substantially or completely discharged.

What to do: Make sure to switch off all the lights and electrical accessories before parking the car.

4. Battery Lifespan
Car batteries also have a limited lifespan. Under normal circumstances, its life can be about 3 to 5 years, although it can vary depending on the use and season.

What is the problem: Over time the battery’s ability to store charge starts decreasing.

What is the effect: The old battery may get discharged again and again and there may be difficulty in starting the engine.

What to do: If your car’s battery is very old and is repeatedly dying down, then get its health and charge-holding capacity checked. If necessary, replacing the battery may be a better option.

5. Short distance driving and impact of weather
Both the way the car is used and the weather can affect battery performance.

Short distance driving: If the car is repeatedly driven for very short distances and is turned off after a short period of time, the alternator does not have enough time to fully replenish the energy used in the battery.

Effect of weather: Extreme heat and extreme cold can also affect the chemical process and performance of the battery. This may affect battery capacity and charging.

What to check if the battery goes down again and again?
If your car battery is frequently discharging, simply installing a new battery is not always the right solution. First of all, the root cause of the problem should be investigated. It is important to check these things:

battery terminals and cables
Battery health and ability to hold charge
alternator charging voltage
parasitic drain
Aftermarket Electrical Accessories
car usage patterns

If all these things are checked on time, then by finding out the exact cause of the problem of frequent battery downs, unnecessary expenses and troubles during travel can be avoided.