What are the effects of long-term battery depletion in a car?
2 Answers
The effects of long-term battery depletion in a car include: 1. It will affect the battery's lifespan, and frequent depletion will shorten its usage time; 2. It may prevent the car from starting, making the vehicle unusable, and other electrical devices in the car may also fail to function properly; 3. During startup, it may cause data loss in the vehicle's control modules, leading to operational failures, such as the loss of anti-theft system information; 4. It may cause the starter motor to overheat, reducing its lifespan; 5. After the vehicle starts, the generator will continuously operate under heavy load, which may damage the generator over time.
I discovered that long-term undercharging of a car battery can lead to a series of troublesome issues. Last year, my car sat unused for several months, and the battery was nearly dead. When I tried to use it again, problems arose. The battery's lifespan was significantly shortened—originally lasting four to five years, but now it completely failed in less than two years. Starting the car often stalled or even failed, and in winter, the engine wouldn’t start, leaving me stranded on the roadside waiting for rescue. Undercharging causes sulfation inside the battery, forming crystals on the lead plates, reducing charging efficiency, and ultimately rendering the battery useless. It also affects the vehicle's electronic systems, such as causing the navigation and anti-theft devices to malfunction. More seriously, the alternator overworks, potentially damaging other components. I recommend regularly driving the car or using a charger for maintenance—otherwise, you might end up like me, spending extra money on repairs and wasting time.
