Why Do Car Batteries Die So Quickly?

Have you ever noticed that car batteries don’t appear to last as long as they used to? Many people first saw it in the early days of COVID Shelter-In-Place Restrictions that discouraged people from driving their cars very far. Cars would sit for weeks at a time, and when the driver tried to start up the engine, the battery was dead. Why is that?

Well, the short answer is that battery technology is about 150 years old, but the amount of electronics that tap into that battery’s energy has quadrupled in the past 20 years. Therefore, car batteries tend to die more quickly because of the “always-on” sensors and clocks, plus the multiple mobile devices plugged into the car’s system that act as a “parasitic draw.” In short, modern life is a drain on old batteries.

That is why we advise getting your car’s battery is regularly inspected to make sure it has plenty of juice. When you bring your battery into Olive Auto Center in Burbank for testing, we will also check to ensure there is no corrosion, loose connectors, and no sign of damage. Should we find that your battery needs replacement, we will notify you to review your options, make intelligent decisions, and help your power supply last longer.

Of course, there are common mistakes that car owners make that kills their car batteries sooner. These mistakes include:

• Accidentally leaving the lights on overnight.
• Assuming that since the battery is not old, they don’t need to test it to see if a new one is required.
• The driver keeps jumping the battery to start the car, ignoring that the alternator or starter is going bad.
• People will sit in an idling car for a long time, unaware that they are burning out their batteries.

If you plan any road trips this Summer, we encourage you to make sure your vehicle battery is in top shape. A little preventive maintenance can go a long way in protecting your vehicle from worn-out parts or unexpected breakdowns. The Olive Auto Center team provides general auto repair for all major makes and models, and we look forward to hearing where you’re planning to travel.

Olive Auto Center is dedicated to providing car owners in and around Burbank with first-rate auto repair and customer service. Please call us or visit us at 264 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, CA 91502. You can trust that our team of highly qualified auto mechanics will offer you services that are second to none. We look forward to providing top-notch automobile services so you and your passengers can feel comfortable traveling down the road.