{"id":2307,"date":"2019-06-24T15:36:50","date_gmt":"2019-06-24T14:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/?p=2307"},"modified":"2025-02-26T18:30:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T18:30:30","slug":"how-to-avoid-battery-problems-with-your-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/how-to-avoid-battery-problems-with-your-car\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid battery problems with your car"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your car battery is one of the most crucial components of your vehicle, which means there\u2019s nothing worse than realising there might be a serious problem with it. One of the most common scenarios is finding that it repeatedly goes flat, for no clear reason. But don\u2019t be too quick to go scrapping a car<\/a>, as there might be a relatively simple explanation. Here, we\u2019ve summed up some of the key ways you can avoid (and possibly fix) battery problems with your vehicle, so that you can ensure you\u2019re always the one \u2018in charge!\u2019<\/p>\n

Avoid frequent short journeys<\/h2>\n

Taking your car for a quick spin down the road to the shops might seem tempting if it\u2019s a particularly lazy Sunday. Unfortunately though, car batteries are generally under the most strain when they\u2019re doing short, frequent journeys. This is because although your car\u2019s alternator charges the battery when you\u2019re driving, short journeys don\u2019t give it enough time to do its job properly. Over a long enough period, this leads to your battery gradually losing charge, which is why ultimately you may be surprised to find it not charging at all one rainy Monday morning.<\/p>\n

Happily, it\u2019s a scenario that\u2019s avoided easily enough, just by avoiding using your car for frequent ten or fifteen minute journeys. If you can\u2019t, it\u2019s worth doing one or two longer journeys occasionally, just to give your alternator time to do its job.<\/p>\n

Make sure everything is switched off<\/h2>\n

It sounds like a simple enough check, but how many of us have walked past parked cars in the street with their headlamps still on? It\u2019s an easy mistake which can cause a car\u2019s battery to be drained if left long enough (say, overnight). It doesn\u2019t have to be the headlights either – the battery can equally be drained by something plugged into a USB port, or the 12v supply. Leaving interior lights on is another equally common oversight, which can have frustrating consequences. For these reasons alone, it\u2019s a good idea to get into the habit of thoroughly checking that all the electrics have been switched off – especially in the warmer months, where brighter sunshine can make active electrics harder to spot.<\/p>\n

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If you find that your battery is still draining even if you\u2019re making sure to turn off all the electronics, you may have what\u2019s called a \u2018parasitic drain\u2019. In other words, some circuits may be active and draining the battery even when the rest of the car is switched off. If you think your vehicle may be suffering from this issue, it\u2019s always wise to get it to a professional as soon as possible!<\/p>\n

Know what to look for<\/h3>\n

As with most vehicle related problems, it can also help if you know how to identify the issue yourself, even if only roughly. As far as a mechanic is concerned, it could all be helpful information! Clicking noises when you turn the ignition, fading dashboard lights or the engine turning over repeatedly are all possible signs that your car battery is flatter than it should be. If you can tell that these issues might be linked to the battery, we\u2019d advise against trying to battle through it and starting the engine anyway. This will only cause the battery even more damaged! And of course, one of the most important bits of advice we can give\u2026<\/p>\n

Get your car serviced regularly<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no better person to tell what\u2019s wrong with your car than a professional mechanic, so be sure that one of them gets to see your vehicle on a regular basis. They\u2019ll be able to tell whether the issues are down to the alternator, starting systems or charging systems for the car and battery. Depending on their condition, they can end up causing the battery to be overcharged, undercharged or not even charged at all. None of those are ideal scenarios!<\/p>\n

An overworked engine or poorly inflated tyres are more symptoms of a vehicle in poor repair, both of which can end up putting strain on the battery. When it comes right down to it, it comes down to that same timeless bit of advice – if you notice an issue, don\u2019t wait too long to get it repaired. It could end up costing you even more money and hassle in the long run!<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say you should get your car repaired indefinitely though. Let\u2019s be honest – there comes a time in a car\u2019s life when the costs of repair outweigh its value. When that happens, you\u2019ll be glad to hear that we\u2019re right there for you here at Scrap Car Network. Just enter your car reg and postcode onto our homepage to get an instant online valuation of your car<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your car battery is one of the most crucial components of your vehicle, which means there\u2019s nothing worse than realising there might be a serious problem with it. One of the most common scenarios is finding that it repeatedly goes flat, for no clear reason. But don\u2019t be too quick to go scrapping a car, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":2311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n