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Terrible Habits of Drivers that “Destroy” Car Battery

ByTsukasa Azuma-December 25, 2020

When it comes to damaged car battery, there is one fact that everyone has consensus on. Research says that driving habits, rather than factory defect, are the culprit behind such damage. In fact, the biggest causes of car battery failure are acid stratification and low charge. Neither of these is a result of manufacturing defects. Astoundingly, most car manufacturers report battery failure in new and large luxury cars with massive power, rather than vehicles from the used car list. Evidently, drivers must be doing something terribly wrong.

Yes, it is the terrible habits of the drivers that render the batter inefficient and defunct in so many cases. These range from ignoring timely servicing to adopting wasteful habits. So, let’s run through 5 terrible habits that can wreak havoc with your car’s battery.

5 Terrible Driving Habits of Drivers that “Destroy” Car Battery

These terrible habits lead to exhaustion and acid stratification in car battery, leaving it exhausted, and totally ineffective. Since the breakdown of the battery can break down the car, it is important to curb these in time.

Leaving Lights and Cooling on while the Car is Stationary

Reasons causing car battery failure (photo source: Kickstarter)

This is one of the biggest reasons why batteries fail in the long run. Leaving lights, radio, car stereo, air conditioner on, or gadgets on charging when the car is not running cause the battery to run out. These things drain the battery charge very quickly. If you do that for hours, it is likely to exhaust the battery pretty soon, this causing battery failure within a few hours.

So, make sure to turn everything off while you are not driving the car. Leaving the gadgets charging overnight in the car, especially, is an extremely destructive habit.

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Driving only Short Distances

Learn this thing about cars – the lesser you drive them, the worse it is for the car battery. If you take your car only for short spins the battery will never get a chance to charge fully. Not taking it for long drive frequently shortens battery life. It is, in fact, one of the biggest reasons for frequent car breakdowns.

Driving only Short Distances is worst for car battery (photo source: Eric Risberg/AP)

This sort of problems is the most prevalent among luxury cars rather than vehicles like buses that are used a lot over the long distance. If you do this over a long period of time, battery failure may become inevitable.

Also, if you are taking your car only for short rides and combining it with point 1, the battery is destined for doom. It leads to acid stratification as electrolytes get concentrated on the bottom. The upper half of the battery thus, lacks in acid, causing it to fail due to corrosion.

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Driving with a Loose Battery 

In case your battery is loosely clamped or not properly secured in its place, the vibration, on driving becomes one of the major causes of car battery failure. It gets even worse if it is an uneven terrain you are driving on. It causes damage to the components inside it, resulting in the formation of cracks. The ultimate result is corrosion and failure down the line.

Driving with a Loose Car Battery

So, whenever you change the battery, make sure that it is properly secured in its place.

Turning the Headlights on before the Engine

The headlight should be turned on after the engine (photo source: Car Chat)

It is something that a lot of us do without realizing that it can be fatal for the car battery. When you put the headlights on before you turn the ignition on, it exerts extra load on the battery. Though it is incapable of causing battery failure in the short term, it surely shortens the life span of even the best batteries.

Lack of General Maintenance

It is important to check the battery every few months, especially at the time of service. Check whether the level of water is full. Water loss takes place because of the normal gassing caused by high temperatures. Simply go for a battery in which you can maintain the water level, and the battery can last much longer than usual.

So, get rid of these bad habits that can actually end up “destroying” your car battery.

If you want to know more information about maintenance tips for your car, follow us for daily updated articles to adapt your demands and also in healing continuity your car every time.

Tsukasa Azuma is an awesome car blogger of Car From Japan. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. Tsukasa’s blog is one of the best resources for information about keeping your favorite imported car running smoothly. Moreover, because of being passionate to learn about the recent happenings in auto industry, he doesn’t only provide great car maintenance tips, he also always updates latest trends in among car brands and share them in his own interesting viewpoint.

Comments

Xavier olede13:37 August 27, 2018
Reply

Thanks for the tips, really we all fall culprits in one way or the other

Nonoe16:07 June 15, 2018
Reply

How many Kilometers are regarded as short distance

john23:15 June 04, 2018
Reply

good advise .i will not be a victim again

Basil03:57 June 03, 2018
Reply

How often should one change the ATF and what should one consider before and while changing?

Mugendi22:37 June 02, 2018
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Good advice

Sam00:47 June 02, 2018
Reply

I am seeking clarification regarding “Leaving Lights and Cooling on while the Car is Stationary”! What if in so doing, my engine is running all through, even thought the car is stationary?

George Thobias16:55 October 24, 2017
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I really like the u educate us guys, i hv a Toyota Brevis model of 2001 the some buttons i don know their functions!! I need help on this b’se i don’t hv its manual book.

kondo k.kondo18:26 October 17, 2017
Reply

am very much happy after reading about. the knowledge you gave us is really needed to me as as a beginner
Thank you

Eduardo19:22 September 20, 2017
Reply

Thanks so much for the learning, I hope you continue to give tips on how to avoid harm to cars innocently.

Best regards
Eduardo Sumbane

Trang Tran01:33 September 28, 2017
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We are glad that you like the article. Don’t forget to share with your friends!

Given siame12:47 September 20, 2017
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Thank you Jan Japan for the educating us on how to use the battery. I’m always indeted.

Patrick22:25 September 17, 2017
Reply

Very much helpful tips for battery maintenance.

Trang Tran01:36 September 28, 2017
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We are glad that you like the article. Don’t forget to share with your friends!

Joel Ambani16:39 September 17, 2017
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I’d like to get more information about the size of a car battery, if I bought car and it came with a 70ah battery, can I change with a higher ah battery like 120ah for more efficiency?

Joel Ambani16:39 September 17, 2017
Reply

I’d like to get more information about the size of a car battery, if I bought car and it came with a 70ah battery, can I change with a higher ah battery like 120ah for more efficiency?

Sam00:45 June 02, 2018
Reply

Chances are high that it will malfunction in a short time owing to the fact that it will be undercharged as the equipment placed in your car was meant to charge a battery of a much lower capacity.

Bupe Mulenga16:27 September 17, 2017
Reply

Hi,
Please send me your e-mail address. I want to find out something about Toyota COROLLA vvti, 1NZ.

Waiting to hear from you.
Best regards.
Bupe.

Seth Magai04:34 September 15, 2017
Reply

Nice one! Leaving radio and charging phones when the engine is not running have made me sleep somewhere i did not want to! However i have a question, is racing past 4000 rpm burning alot more fuel than 2500 coming down? If you are doing 150klm for example and engine’s rpm is above 4000 does consumption same with if you are doing 150klm and engine’s rpm is at 2000?

Trang Tran02:43 September 26, 2017
Reply

Thank u for asking us. We will search more information and update later

S a haukozi18:30 September 14, 2017
Reply

Valuable information

Trang Tran02:43 September 26, 2017
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We are happy to receive your comments. Please share with your friends so they can enjoy this article, too.