{"id":85657,"date":"2023-06-20T22:06:34","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T05:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=85657"},"modified":"2025-05-08T01:13:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T08:13:36","slug":"car-battery-drains-overnight-potential-causes-and-how-to-prevent-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/car-battery-drains-overnight-potential-causes-and-how-to-prevent-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Battery Drains Overnight: Potential Causes and How To Prevent Them"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column85657_799938-46{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column85657_799938-46 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column85657_799938-46 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-c92cd9  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-5dd263\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading85657_8396f5-ec\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some of the possible reasons why your car battery can be drained overnight include accidentally leaving the lights on, having a faulty relay causing parasitic draw from accessories, and failing to replace an underperforming alternator among others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experts recommend replacing your car battery every four or five years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow your manufacturer&rsquo;s recommended maintenance schedule to maximize your battery&rsquo;s service life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To diagnose what&rsquo;s causing your cat battery to keep dying, you can start by using a multimeter to check for a parasitic draw.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>There&rsquo;s nothing more frustrating than having a dead car battery while you&rsquo;re running late. If you&rsquo;re wondering what can drain your car battery overnight, here are the possible culprits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lights in the car were left on<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parasitic draw from accessories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extreme temperatures and weather<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damaged battery connections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damaged alternator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Too many short drives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Old battery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The great news is that you can prevent them and keep your battery ready to power your ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes a Car Battery To Drain Overnight?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/removing-a-drained-car-battery-1024x686.jpg\" alt=\"removing a drained car battery\" class=\"wp-image-85658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/removing-a-drained-car-battery-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/removing-a-drained-car-battery-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/removing-a-drained-car-battery-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/removing-a-drained-car-battery-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/removing-a-drained-car-battery-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/removing-a-drained-car-battery-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are many reasons a car battery loses charge overnight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many reasons a car battery loses charge overnight. Not all of them are obvious, but most are preventable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lights Left On<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While newer vehicle models will turn the lights off automatically, older units don&rsquo;t have this feature. If your ride falls in the latter category, failing to switch the lights off after exiting can potentially waste a lot of battery power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Illuminated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/headlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"headlights\">headlights<\/a> drain energy quickly, however, leaving your interior light on will lead to the same problem. If your vehicle is malfunctioning, it could struggle to register when a car door has been closed, resulting in the interior light staying on overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lights that are left on overnight will drain the car&rsquo;s battery until there&rsquo;s no power left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Give your vehicle a look-over after closing its doors. Just a quick check to make sure all the lights are off can save you a lot of power. It&rsquo;s a good habit to develop since you can improve the overall longevity of your car by minimizing battery drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most newer vehicles make checking over them a lot easier. Some have alert systems that let drivers know if they&rsquo;ve left any part of the car on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parasitic Draw From Accessories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lights aren&rsquo;t the only parts that drain power. Essential dashboard parts like the clock, radio, and sound system all drain energy from the car battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This normally wouldn&rsquo;t be a problem because cars tend to charge their batteries whenever they&rsquo;re in motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, a damaged relay could cause cars to use up power even when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off. This parasitic draw can drain the battery if left unresolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping an eye out for any accessories that are still active after shutting the door can increase your car battery&rsquo;s longevity. Don&rsquo;t leave things like chargers and other plugged accessories, as they&rsquo;ll continuously drain power from the battery even if your car isn&rsquo;t running. Unplug and remove them before leaving your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extreme Temperatures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Older car batteries are sensitive to sharp changes in temperature. Whether it&rsquo;s due to the severe heat or the cold, you might notice performance issues with your car battery in extreme temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, newer batteries are more resistant to weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Protect your car from the elements. Blanketing your vehicle with a car cover could work for sedans and SUVs, but your best bet would be to park it in your garage. Garages are perfect for keeping your vehicle out of extreme temperatures and inclement weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Damaged Battery Connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car battery keeps draining overnight, the battery connections could be either loose or&nbsp; damaged. Sometimes the positive and negative terminals connected to the car battery <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-and-prevent-a-corroded-car-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"corrode\">corrode<\/a> or come loose, making it difficult for the battery to transmit power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car battery is already damaged, your best bet would be to replace it with a new one. Driving with damaged battery connections is dangerous because you run the risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/car-shuts-off-while-driving-causes-what-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"stalling out\">stalling out<\/a> in the middle of the road. You could also put your vehicle&rsquo;s electric components in jeopardy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Damaged Alternator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/alternator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"alternator\">alternator<\/a> is responsible for charging the car battery while you drive. So if it takes any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-alternator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"damage\">damage<\/a>, it might affect the output of energy, leaving the battery with less power to work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your vehicle consumes more electricity than it generates, your car battery will inevitably drain and run out of power. On average, an alternator should <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/alternator-voltage-regulation-101-with-wiring-diagrams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"generate 13.5 to 14.5 volts\">generate 13.5 to 14.5 volts<\/a>. If your alternator is underperforming, it could be responsible for your drained battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like with most car parts, proper maintenance is key, so regularly check on your alternator. If it&rsquo;s old or too damaged, it might be time to replace it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to double-check it for any damage in the diodes as well. An alternator with damaged diodes is going to gradually lose power as electricity leaks&mdash;even when the car is off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequent Short Drives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"female driver going for a short trip\" class=\"wp-image-85659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/female-driver-going-for-a-short-trip-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Short trips put tremendous strain on your car&rsquo;s battery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Though the alternator generates energy for your car battery while you drive, it takes time to do so. This means short drives can cause you to waste a lot of power. The power used up starting the car will eventually overtake the power generated by the alternator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, short trips put tremendous strain on your car&rsquo;s battery. In other words, making short trips too frequently can shorten the lifespan of your car battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have to use your vehicle for a short time, you can leave it running. Letting it run for even 10 minutes can help improve the overall longevity of your battery, preventing it from draining itself overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Battery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your car battery loses charge overnight, it could be a sign that it&rsquo;s on its last legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bear in mind that some car batteries can expire earlier than anticipated due to harsh weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and bad driving habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prevent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On average, a car battery lasts 4-5 years. If the one in your vehicle is older than that, it might be time to consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-replace-a-car-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"getting a replacement\">getting a replacement<\/a>. Driving with an old battery isn&rsquo;t dangerous, but it is incredibly inconvenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leaving Your Car Parked Too Long<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A car that&rsquo;s been sitting in the garage for too long can lead to a dead battery. In most modern vehicles, electronic systems continue to use power even when the engine is off. This is why your car might refuse to start after leaving it parked for a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Prevent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A brief 15-minute drive every week should be enough to help maintain your car battery&rsquo;s state of charge. This also helps keep the alternator and electronic systems in good condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to drive for at least 15 minutes because quick drives can also harm your car battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do You Diagnose What Is Draining Your Car Battery?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With so many possible causes, figuring out why your car battery keeps dying can take some time. Here are some tips on how to diagnose what&rsquo;s draining your car battery:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check if you left any of your interior lights, trunk lights, and other electrical systems turned on after you exited your vehicle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To check for parasitic drain, start with a fully charged battery before disconnecting the negative terminal of your car battery. This ensures you have a clean slate and will prevent any power from being drawn while testing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow your manufacturer&rsquo;s guidelines regarding battery testing. Make sure to set your multimeter according to its specifications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your multimeter shows that there is a parasitic drain, you&rsquo;ll have to remove one fuse at a time while checking the multimeter for any changes. If your multimeter doesn&rsquo;t detect a parasitic drain in your vehicle, then it might be time to ask a mechanic for help.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing what kills a car battery can help you correct bad owner habits and avoid inconvenient battery drain. You can confidently start your car the next day, and rest assured it will run.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>There&rsquo;s nothing more frustrating than having a dead car battery while you&rsquo;re running late. If you&rsquo;re wondering what can drain&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/car-battery-drains-overnight-potential-causes-and-how-to-prevent-them\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":85660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3758],"tags":[73],"ppma_author":[2607,3742],"class_list":{"0":"post-85657","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-electrical-system","9":"tag-battery","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Car Battery Drains Overnight: Potential Causes and How To Prevent Them - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are multiple reasons a car battery drains overnight. Read on to learn how to prevent them and keep your battery ready.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/car-battery-drains-overnight-potential-causes-and-how-to-prevent-them\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Car Battery Drains Overnight: Potential Causes and How To Prevent Them - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There are multiple reasons a car battery drains overnight. 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