Why Does My Car Battery Keep Dying Even After Replacing it With a Brand New One?

by Phil Borges // in Car

It’s frustrating when your car battery dies, and you have to go to get a new one. But, what if the new one keeps dying? That’s even more frustrating! If this is happening to you, don’t worry. We’re going to detail some tips that will help determine why your battery keeps dying so you can save money on having someone come out and fix it for you or buy a brand-new car battery.

Why does the car battery keep dying even after replacing it with a brand new one?

If you are noticing that your new car battery keeps dying after replacing it, there could be an underlying problem. The cause of the issue may not be as simple as forgetting to turn off lights or radio before getting out of the car. There could be something wrong with the other parts of your car that are causing the problem.

The charging system is needing repair.

If there’s a problem or an error with the charging system, then it can stop generating enough power to keep your battery charged. This may result the battery dying and need to be recharged. There are a few ways you might notice that you have a charging system problem. One indicator is that the car will not turn on at all when the key is turned. The other indicator could be with using auxiliary devices, like a cell phone charger, inside of your car. If the car doesn’t charge or won’t turn on at all with these devices, then there are likely issues with the charging system in your vehicle.

The alternator is weak. 

The alternator in your car generates the power to charge the battery. If there is a problem with this part of the car, then it won’t be able to charge the battery and will eventually stop working altogether. A good indicator that you have an alternator problem is if your headlights don’t come on when they are supposed to. This means that there’s a higher chance that you need to replace your alternator instead of just your battery.

Corrosion on terminals

Corrosion on the car battery terminals is also a cause of your battery dying. What’s going on is that the terminals are creating a circuit and it’s not really connecting well. This means that the car can’t charge your battery, so it will eventually die out. The indicator of this situation is if you think you have corrosion because you’re noticing a burning smell when turning your car on. In this case, you need to clean off the terminal and try again with a new battery.

The battery isn’t compatible.

It’s possible that the battery is not compatible. There are different types of car batteries, and not all of them will work with your car system. The best way to find out if this is the problem is to compare your vehicle’s electrical system with the specifications of your new battery or consult a mechanic.

Due to a Parasitic drain

A parasitic drain is when the current is being drawn away from the car’s battery. The drain could come from lights in your vehicle, accessories that plug into your cigarette lighter, or phone chargers. These items are drawing power away from your car’s battery and draining it of its charge. This will eventually cause your battery to die and need replacement. If you notice that there are lights on in your car and you’re getting frustrated with your battery dying, then the first thing to do is check those lights to see if they need to be turned off.

Does a new battery need charging?

Some car owners may think why their car keeps on dying is because the new battery needs charging. The answer is no. Most of the new batteries are manufactured with a full charge on them, and they can be used right away. With this, you don’t need to worry about your battery life or quality anymore.

A new car battery might malfunction on the first use if there was damage caused by improper shipping or something like that. In this case, you may need to return the battery and exchange it for another one.

Should I drive my car immediately after installing the new battery?

If you can, let your car run for a few minutes after installing a new battery. To ensure that the charge stays in place and doesn’t deplete too quickly on its own, give it a drive for around 30 minutes before stopping again so that the battery is able to recharge.

Conclusion

To avoid the frustrations of a car battery dying so often, it is best to understand the reasons behind why this happens in order to save time and effort. A common theme with car batteries dying frequently is that either bad cables or corrosion on battery terminals are causing issues that can be a result of not properly maintaining your battery.

It is still best to check a professional mechanic for assistance, but if you can do the necessary maintenance on your own, this will result in less time and money spent at an auto shop.

About the author, Phil Borges

Phil Borges is a battery aficionado. He's written extensively about batteries, and he loves nothing more than discussing the latest innovations in the industry. He has a deep understanding of how batteries work, and he's always on the lookout for new ways to improve their performance.