What Causes a Parasitic Battery Drain?

A parasitic battery drain occurs when an electrical component continues drawing power after the vehicle is switched off.

Common Causes

  • Interior lights left on
  • Faulty alternator diodes
  • Aftermarket alarms
  • Defective relays
  • Malfunctioning control modules
  • Faulty audio systems

Symptoms

  • Dead battery after parking
  • Frequent jump starts
  • Slow engine cranking

A technician can identify the drain using a multimeter and circuit testing.