What Causes a Car to Lose Power After Sitting for Ten Days?
2 Answers
If a car loses power after being parked for several days, it is generally due to the following reasons: 1. Check whether the car's electrical appliances were turned off after parking. If the vehicle's electrical equipment was not turned off in time, it can cause power drain; 2. Inspect all relays or whether the power plugs of the car's electrical appliances have short circuits or leakage. If a fault is found, contact a 4S shop or a repair technician for maintenance; 3. Check whether the outer skin of the battery's positive cable is damaged, as damage may lead to leakage; 4. Visit a 4S shop or ask a repair technician to check whether the car battery has any inherent faults. If necessary, replace it with a new battery.
Last time I went on a business trip and left my car parked for over a week, the battery died—what a hassle. The main reason was probably the battery itself; after several years of use, aging batteries tend to discharge quickly when parked. More commonly, there are things that still draw power secretly after parking, like the car’s computer, anti-theft system, or electronic devices such as the clock. This is called parasitic drain, and many modern cars have this issue. In cold weather, the discharge is even faster, and battery performance drops. I recommend checking the battery’s condition—if it’s old, replace it ASAP. Also, before long-term parking, it’s best to disconnect the battery’s negative terminal or buy a battery maintainer to keep it charged, which can prevent future embarrassments. Using the car more frequently in daily life also helps maintain battery health. After learning my lesson last time, I now check it regularly, and things have improved a lot.
