Perhaps you’ve experienced this firsthand. You hopped in your car and hit the road to see relatives or have a quick getaway. Just when you’re about to hit the ground running, your battery dies. Just make sure it’s fully charged and in good working order before you go. Why has it finally died? When not used, car batteries eventually die. On the other hand, a battery’s expected lifespan is four to two months.
Sadly, there are a number of reasons why your battery can die in three days if you don’t drive it. Read on to find out why your car’s battery dies after three days of not being driven.
Why Does My Car Battery Die After Sitting for a Few Days?
“After a few days of sitting, my car’s battery died. What gives?” When an automobile battery dies after only a few days of sitting, it’s either due to parasitic draining or just plain old age. Many things could be draining the battery power while the vehicle is sitting, such as a malfunctioning relay, an improperly connected radio, an unplugged phone charger, or an inadequately charged battery.
When everything is working properly, there’s no need for a healthy battery to deplete within a few days, even though automotive batteries self-discharge over a long period. Do a parasitic drain test to find out why your car’s battery is dying quickly.
How Do You Keep A Car Battery From Dying When Not In Use?
You can attach a trickle charger or battery conditioner to the terminals in the engine compartment to extend the life of your battery and prevent it from dying while sitting. When the automobile is parked in a safe place, you have other options, such as turning off the alarm or removing the battery.
A trickle charger or battery conditioner will slowly charge the battery over time. But at least you’ll know for sure the next time you want to start your car—thanks to this.
To further preserve the battery life, you can unplug the security system. There are risks associated with this, though. You should only do this if the car is in a safe location, because of this.
A weak battery will drain overnight, so if you’re asking, “How can I stop my car battery from draining overnight?” you can just unplug the battery. That being the case, it’s your sole option for keeping the battery from dying. Be cautious, though, because doing so will return the electrical systems to their factory default settings.
Conclusion
A car battery can die in as little as three days for a variety of causes, as you have seen. Parasitic draining, anything left on, or a weak or old battery that needs replacing are the most prevalent causes.