{"id":15803,"date":"2023-04-28T11:10:49","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T01:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/batterytools.net\/?p=15803"},"modified":"2023-05-18T15:36:40","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T05:36:40","slug":"can-a-bad-solenoid-drain-your-battery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/batterytools.net\/can-a-bad-solenoid-drain-your-battery\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Bad Solenoid Drain Your Battery?"},"content":{"rendered":"
A car starter solenoid is a small electric switch in the ignition system that sends power to the starter motor when you turn your key in the start position. The engine will not crank unless there is voltage going to this part of your electronic ignition, which can be caused by a bad battery<\/a> or one with low cranking amps. With a bad starter solenoid, you will not be able to start your car<\/a> from the battery.<\/p>\n If it is a weak or drained battery that has been giving your trouble starting up your engine, then a bad solenoid may drain the battery. If the alternator is charging properly and sending current out to all parts of the vehicle, then the starter solenoid should not be draining your battery.<\/p>\n You will want to check the voltage of your battery. Whether it is old or new is another thing you can look into with a mechanic if needed. If it continues to drain after replacing the starter solenoid, then there are likely other problems in need of fixing on your car.<\/p>\n The solenoid is pretty simple in its design. It’s a plunger that moves when the battery sends an electrical current through it to open or close whatever mechanism you need opened or closed, like your brake lights, for example. This makes it easy to see how if there was any damage at all done to this part of the car, it could be the cause of your battery woes.<\/p>\n It is easy to recognize the symptoms of a bad starter solenoid. If you notice that your lights seem to go on and off without any rhyme or reason, it might just be a warning sign that something is up with this part of the car. If there has been an electrical surge because of some other damage done elsewhere in your solenoid system, then the solenoid could be acting up and not working the way it should.<\/p>\n In order to avoid this from happening, keep an eye on your lights when you’re driving at night. If they seem to be reacting strangely, try to get them checked out as soon as possible so that there aren’t any unnecessary delays in getting moving if you need a new battery.<\/p>\n There are plenty of reasons for this to occur, but two significant causes most often contribute. The first would be the battery itself, and the second would be a bad solenoid draining it while your car is turned off.<\/p>\n Other factors that contribute to a drained battery include:<\/p>\n It’s not always easy to tell, but here are a few things to look for:<\/p>\n The solenoid is the part of your starter system that uses an electric current to control when your engine can start or crank. Solenoids are made up of a plunger inside what’s called an electromagnetic coil, which creates magnetic fields around it. When electricity passes through this coil, these fields collapse and cause the plunger to move. When the plunger moves, it either connects or disconnects two parts in your starter system and causes a gear inside of it to turn over and start your engine.<\/p>\n There are a number of reasons for a bad starter solenoid. Some causes act alone, while others work together. The following are some examples of factors that can cause a starter solenoid to fail.<\/p>\nParasitic<\/span> Draw<\/span> Chart<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n Low Parasitic Draw (mA)<\/th>\n High Parasitic Draw (mA)<\/th>\n Device<\/th>\n Function<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n 0.002<\/td>\n 0.01<\/td>\n Diodes<\/td>\n Voltage Regulation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 0.01<\/td>\n 0.1<\/td>\n Voltage Regulators<\/td>\n Voltage Regulation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 0.004<\/td>\n 0.02<\/td>\n LEDs<\/td>\n Light Emission<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 0.001<\/td>\n 0.005<\/td>\n Capacitors<\/td>\n Voltage Stabilization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 0.002<\/td>\n 0.04<\/td>\n Transistors<\/td>\n Signal Amplification<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 0.003<\/td>\n 0.06<\/td>\n ICs<\/td>\n Signal Processing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n What happens when a solenoid goes bad?<\/h2>\n
What can drain a car battery when the car is off?<\/h2>\n
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How do you know if your starter solenoid is bad?<\/h2>\n
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