What Can Drain Your Car’s Battery Even When It’s Turned Off? 

Your car battery can drain even when the car is turned off.

There are several reasons for this, including the car alarm, interior, and exterior lighting, the radio, the navigation system, and the climate control system.

Other electronic devices can also contribute to battery drain.

To avoid this, be sure to turn off all electronics when you park your car. You can also invest in a battery charger to keep your car battery from draining.

But that’s not all you need to know when your car’s battery is draining off fast even when it’s off.

Below are the tips for you that you can follow

1. The Car Alarm

If your car alarm is going off frequently, it can drain your battery.

To avoid this, be sure to have the system serviced regularly.

2. Interior and Exterior Lighting

If you leave your car’s interior or exterior lights on, they will drain the battery.

To avoid this, be sure to turn off all your car lights including the headlight when you decide to park your car in your garage or somewhere outside.

3. The Radio

If you leave your car’s radio on, it can also drain the battery fast.

To avoid this, be sure to turn off the radio when you park your car anywhere.

4. The Navigation System

Leaving your GPS on overnight or if you use your car’s navigation system frequently, can drain the battery.

To avoid this, be sure to turn off the navigation system when your car is not in use or turned off.

5. The Climate Control System

It’s unlikely that freezing will ruin your car battery, but it can damage the battery.

If you use your car’s climate control system frequently, especially in the winter months, it can drain the battery.

Besides the above, there are other electronic devices, such as cell phones and laptops, that can also drain your car battery.

To avoid the problem caused due to them, be sure to turn off all electronics when you park your car.

How long can a car battery sit unused?

Typically, your car’ battery can sit for about four weeks to two months without driving. After which it can most likely die.

A detached car battery can survive up to six months if kept out of the vehicle in a safe location and properly charged.

It will require charging, just like any other automobile battery, but not as frequently as if it were connected.

Every 12 weeks, it’s good to give the battery a charge is a reasonable rule of thumb.

How to keep a car battery from dying when not in use?

If you are not planning on using your car for an extended period of time, it is best to disconnect the battery.

This will prevent the battery from draining and dying.

You can also invest in a battery charger to keep your car battery from draining.

How do you tell if it’s a bad alternator or your car battery?

You can tell if it’s a bad alternator or your car battery by the following symptoms:

1. If your car won’t start, but the lights and radio work, it could be a bad alternator.

2. If your car starts, but the lights and radio don’t work, it could be a bad battery.

3. If your car won’t start and the lights and radio don’t work, it could be a bad starter.

4. If your car starts, but the engine dies shortly after, it could be a bad alternator.

5. If your car battery is more than three years old, it’s time to replace it.

If you’re still having trouble, take your car to a mechanic or an auto parts store to have it checked out.

The Conclusion

There are a few things that can cause your car battery to drain, even when the car is turned off.

One of the most common causes is leaving your headlights on overnight or leaving your car charger plugged in.

Even if you turn your car off and don’t use it for a while, your battery will slowly lose power.