Q: Parasitic load on battery.
The battery drains while my car is running.
Recommended Services
| Battery will not hold a charge Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
Cars basically use the battery at start up. Once the vehicle is running the alternator takes over and provides the car with the electricity it needs to run. If the alternator stops producing the electricity the car needs, the car simply starts taking it from the battery. The car will continue to run until it drains the battery then it will turn off. A technician will be able to test your charging system and determine if the alternator is the culprit.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
How do you use the Window Lock?
Safety is important in your car, particularly if you have small children in the back seat. The Window Lock function allows you to disable the back window controls. When the lock is active, only the driver and front passenger can...
How do I check the transmission fluid?
Your transmission needs fluid just like your engine needs oil and for the same reasons. It lubricates and reduces heat, while providing the pressure needed for the transmission to operate. Keeping an eye on your fluid level is important to...
How do I adjust the remote start heater and air conditioning?
When you use the remote start to turn on your vehicle, the climate controls can automatically adjust the temperature based on the outside temperature, or they can resume the temperature settings that you were using when you most recently turned...
Drove with emergency brake on
While driving with the emergency brake on is not good, there is no need to panic. Driving with the emergency brake on for a bit is usually not an issue, but if you drove for an extended period of time,...
Hear rattling under the hood
Hi there. Many components make up your cooling system. If any of these components are not functioning properly, it will cause your vehicle to overheat. If your vehicle is not leaking any coolant chances are that your radiator fan(s) are...
Advice what to check or replace.
Hello. The code P0370 is an indicator that your vehicle's timing reference optical sensor is having an issue. This signal that this sensor provides for the computer is very important to the overall engine performance of the vehicle, especially at...
Check engine light came on and got a code p0015. I didn't notice anything while driving.
Hi there. When getting the code P0015 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0015-obd-ii-trouble-code-camshaft-position-b-timing-over-retarded-bank-1-by-jay-safford), the main thing to check is to verify the operation of the Variable Camshaft Timing (VCT) solenoid. This solenoid is operated by the oil pressure in the engine. If the oil in...
Fuel pump relay location.
Relays are always a good location to test a system. You are on the right track in that respect. Unfortunately, your car does not have a traditional fuel pump relay. It has what is known as the Fuel pump driver...
My car won't stay running unless I hold the gas pedal down.
This is likely as your symptoms do fall into that category because a clogged or malfunctioning idle air control valve may not allow enough air into the engine to maintain a good idle speed. A faulty air temperature and engine...
Related articles
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Just Had a Baby
Having Having a baby will completely change your life. Your activities and hobbies will change. Your sleeping patterns will change. Chances are good that you’ll also be looking for a change in vehicles. You need to ensure that your car...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Arizona in 2012
Depending Depending on where you live in Arizona, the weather is either arid or there may be periods of heavy snow – such as in the mountain areas. The vehicles that have been popular in previous years for the area,...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Georgia in 2012
Georgia Georgia offers drivers a mild climate with very little snow, but rain is a major factor. Previous best-selling cars in the area, such as the Escape, Fusion and Camry, have shown that residents prefer a mix of both SUV...
Browse other content
Cities
Maintenance