If the battery in the stored vehicle goes dead over a period of three days, then:

Prepare for the Automotive Service Technician Period 1 exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If the battery in the stored vehicle goes dead over a period of three days, then:

When a stored vehicle loses its battery after a few days with no engine running, the most likely cause is a parasitic drain—that is, a small continuous electrical draw that remains active after the ignition is off. Modern cars have many systems that stay powered in memory or standby modes (like radios, alarms, clocks, and various modules). If any of these or an accessory stays drawing more current than normal, the battery will steadily discharge during the storage period. Alternator failure wouldn’t explain a discharge while the car is stored, since the alternator isn’t running in that situation to recharge the battery. A corroded battery cable can create charging or starting problems due to high resistance, but it doesn’t specifically describe a consistent drain that occurs after the vehicle is parked. A battery that’s near the end of its life could fail, but parasitic drain best explains a discharge that happens simply from sitting idle for a few days.

When a stored vehicle loses its battery after a few days with no engine running, the most likely cause is a parasitic drain—that is, a small continuous electrical draw that remains active after the ignition is off. Modern cars have many systems that stay powered in memory or standby modes (like radios, alarms, clocks, and various modules). If any of these or an accessory stays drawing more current than normal, the battery will steadily discharge during the storage period.

Alternator failure wouldn’t explain a discharge while the car is stored, since the alternator isn’t running in that situation to recharge the battery. A corroded battery cable can create charging or starting problems due to high resistance, but it doesn’t specifically describe a consistent drain that occurs after the vehicle is parked. A battery that’s near the end of its life could fail, but parasitic drain best explains a discharge that happens simply from sitting idle for a few days.

More practice questions