What Causes a Car’s Battery to Die? 

If your car needs the attention of a professional, it has many ways of letting you know. If you need new brake pads, for example, you may hear whining or screeching coming from your wheel wells when you apply the brakes.

Unfortunately, a car battery isn’t typically as communicative when it’s in trouble. For this reason, it’s important to know what can cause a battery to expire so you’ll know when to schedule Chevy maintenance for your battery at our Chevrolet service center.

Passage of Time

Whether you’re shopping for a brand-new Chevy Silverado or you have your eye on one of our Chevy Certified Pre-Owned models, you need to keep track of your battery’s age. According to AAA, the expected lifespan of a car battery is just three to five years. As time passes and your battery continues to start your engine and supply power to your car’s electrical components, the unit will start to deteriorate.

To avoid getting stuck in a deserted parking lot or an unfamiliar backroad, we recommend having your battery tested at least once per year. This is particularly important if your battery is three years old or older or if you’re unsure about your battery’s age.

Parasitic Draws

When they contact our Wallingford, CT Chevy dealership, drivers often ask if various components continue to draw power from their battery even when their vehicle is off. The answer to that question is yes.

Your battery continues to provide power to things like the radio, clock, and alarm system even when your car isn’t running. If you leave your headlights and dome light on, your battery will continue to power them, which will eventually drain the unit.

As you drive, the alternator recharges your battery. When your automobile is turned off, the alternator can’t recharge the battery, which allows parasitic draws like illuminated headlights to drain the unit.

Short Trips

The team at Executive Chevrolet wants you to know that you should drive your vehicle somewhat frequently to keep your battery charged and healthy. Taking short trips isn’t always enough, however. To keep your battery charged, you should drive your vehicle at highway speeds for at least 30 minutes every three or four days.

Do you need a new battery? If you do, or if you aren’t sure, we invite you to visit our Chevrolet parts and service center. We look forward to seeing you at our conveniently located Chevy dealership soon!