Overview of possible causes

A breakdown due to a drained battery or a problem in the vehicle energy system is not necessarily the result of a faulty battery. The various causes of battery discharge can be placed in two main categories:

• Vehicle faults:
  • Vehicle does not assume sleep mode.
  • The vehicle keeps being woken up.
  • Standby current too high in rest state.
  • Faulty alternator (poor alternator charge balance).
  • Faulty battery.
• Unfavorable effect of customer benefits:
  • Side lights, parking light or hazard warning flashers were switched on for too long.
  • Terminal R or Terminal 15 switched on for too long
  • Long immobilization period.
  • Average trips unfavorable (short-distance driving).
  • Frequent or extended use of auxiliary consumers when engine is not running (e.g. radio or rear seat entertainment system), which can also result in inhibited sleep mode and higher power consumption.