5 Causes for Your Car’s Flat Batteries
Flat batteries are the enemy of drivers the world over. Your batteries going flat can strike at any time, but ‘sod’s law’ dictates that it’s always more likely to hit you when you’re about to drive somewhere really important. A flat car battery is caused, in the most basic terms, by the battery’s charge being drained faster than it can be replenished.
But what causes this? This blog offers clear insights into habits that can make a battery flat, so you can maintain your car’s functionality regularly.
Flat battery vs dead battery
Like engine failure, flat batteries can be significantly inconvenient, however, that doesn’t mean there’s no solution – which is the case with dead batteries. A flat battery is a battery that’s lost its electric charge, but can still hold a charge and be restarted. On the other hand, a dead battery has suffered neglect or internal damage to the point of never being revivable.
Infrequent or short trips
Running your car as usual is the best way for the alternator to recharge the battery, which means the battery can go flat if you don’t drive often enough. However, on the other hand, only taking short trips – around 20 minutes or less – can leave the alternator not having enough time to fully replenish. This leads to a gradual, cumulative discharge, leaving the battery flat.
Faulty alternator
The alternator itself can be faulty or malfunctioning for all sorts of reasons, meaning it won’t charge the battery as you drive, whatever the trip length. This will cause the battery to slowly drain over time whether driving or not. Signs of a faulty alternator can include dim or flickering headlights, while you should also keep an eye on the battery warning lights.
Leaving accessories on
This could likely be the most common cause of flat batteries. Yes, we all like listening to music when we drive, but leaving the radio on when you’re not driving can drain the battery in a very short space of time. Other battery draining accessories to leave on include:
- Headlights
- Interior dome lights
- Air conditioners
Older batteries are particularly sensitive to this, so just be vigilant when you stop your car.
Parasitic drain
Even when a car is turned off, electrical components like the clock, alarm system, immobiliser or dash cam will continue to draw a small amount of power from the battery. This is known as a parasitic drain, which should only be very small. However, faulty electrical installations, like dodgy aftermarket items, can cause excessive drain that flattens the battery overnight.
Old age
The typical car battery is going to last around 3 to 5 years, with the internal components degrading significantly over time. After a few years, the battery will not be able to hold a full charge, making it more likely to go flat or eventually die – this can be exacerbated by extreme seasonal weather.
Preparing properly
Understanding the reasons that you’re getting flat batteries is the first step to preventing it. However, sometimes you won’t be able to get ahead of your issues on the road. In those cases, make sure you have a car breakdown recovery policy in place. This will guarantee you can get back on the move in moments of emergency.
For more insights into the world of the road, check out our blog today.