Q: will an open door light left on (in dash) cause battery to totally discharge over 4 days?

asked by on October 04, 2016

Totally dead battery that will recharge with regular battery charger.

My car has 30000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

It is common for the battery to die if a door was left cracked for several days. When the door is left open, the car does not go into its sleep shutdown mode and some of the interior lights stay on such as the dome lights and door marker lights. The battery should be fully recharged and then load tested to make sure it is in good condition.

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


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Car engine knocking, smoking, burning oil
Experiencing an engine knock is not a problem to be taken lightly. Typically when an engine begins to produce a knocking sound, it is a good indication that there is some sort of internal engine damage already going on. This,...
Engine hesitating and revving
It sounds like the transmission may be slipping. With the engine running, fully warmed up, and in Park, pull the transmission dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag. Insert the dipstick fully into the tube and pull it back out...
Knock sensor keeps setting off
I would recommend clearing the P0328 code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0328-obd-ii-trouble-code-knock-sensor-1-circuit-high-input-by-spencer-clayton) and then see if the code returns. If the code returns and the engine does not have any knocking noise, then test and replace the knock sensor and retest the system. If...
Battery drain, brake warning light on
Hello. If the battery is draining as the vehicle sits then most of the time this is caused by a failing ignition switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-switch-replacement). I have had a lot of these fail on this vehicle. I usually start by doing...
Catalytic converter gets red and lost power
There's only one thing that will cause a converter to glow red. That is too much air and fuel. The most common reason is the engine is misfiring. If your engine is shaking, and does not have power, it is...
Engine mounts
You only have the one engine mount located in front of the engine, near accessory belts. The other mounts hook up to the transmission. This will depend on if you have a manual or automatic transmission since they are different...
Brake light switch continuously fails
Hello. You may want to check the connections at the terminal as it is not uncommon for these to get very hot and melt the plastic inside and corrode. This may also be a rusty ground which can also cause...
Loss of power, drive. 2010 Ford F150
Hello - check first for the correct fluid level (and condition - red and relatively clear) of transmission fluid. If fluid level and condition are proper, the problem is likely with the internals of the transmission (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-an-automatic-transmission-works): fluid pressure and...
2016 chrysler 200 service air bag light is on
Hi There, This is a known issue with this vehicle related to the malfunction of the airbag system. I would suggest taking the vehicle to your nearest Chrysler dealer to have the vehicle inspected and to determine if this is...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Toyota Sequoia
If If you need to haul a crowd and you want the power needed to haul all the toys as well, the 2012 Toyota Sequoia might be a perfect fit. While it doesn’t have the hauling capacity of some of...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2011 Volvo S40
When When you think of Volvo, safety undoubtedly comes to mind first, and that’s exactly what the 2011 Volvo S40 is all about. Of course, it’s also comfortable, refined and features a pretty high-performing engine, to boot. You might actually...
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,...