Q: New car battery drained.

asked by on January 19, 2016

Something is draining my car battery even though the battery was new. The alternator is good. The visor light sometimes comes on by itself on the driver's side. The prior owner changed headlight to HLD with a booster.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Car blows white smoke
Hi there. White smoke can come from the exhaust on this truck for a number of reasons. The most common cause is a failing fuel injector that is allowing excessive amounts of fuel to enter the engine. It can also...
Removing medium deep scratches from the paint
Unfortunately, when it is that deep, the best thing you can try yourself may be various levels of buffing (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-buff-a-car). You can do the coarse, medium, and fine buffing. Try buffing them out and try painting it over (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-paint-a-car-yourself). When...
Short Squeaking heard from the engine.
Thanks for writing in about the squeaking sound (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/loud-squealing-or-rattling-is-coming-from-engine-inspection) coming form your 2007 Porsche Boxster. Typically this type of noise is related to a loose alternator (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/alternator-belt-replacement) or serpentine belt (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement), but commonly appears during acceleration as opposed to deceleration...
Difficult to control in wind and veers above 60 mph
Hello there. This sounds like a more unusual situation. Ford uses the rollover stability control system as an additional safety feature to help prevent rollovers. A bit of body movement in normal wind speeds would not be abnormal. It should...
If you got rocks in your gas tank, is it a big problem?
Hello. The problems you will have will be hearing the rocks move when you stop or take off. The other problem will be if the rocks were real dirty and may clog the pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-replacement) or filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-filter-replacement). If the...
What is causing my warning lights to come on?
Your battery and charging system will need to be tested to see if the alternator is charging correctly. The alternator is most likely the cause of your Charge Light and Battery Light (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-light-is-on-inspection) coming on. You should replace the alternator...
I am getting a P0171 code. It runs smooth and the fuel trim is good at idle. Under load the trim goes high.
If your fuel trims are ok at idle,but seem to climb when a load is applied to the engine the problem may be in the fuel delivery or air metering. A clogged fuel filter may disrupt the flow up fuel...
Traction Control System
The stabilitrack system is your car's traction control system. Depending on the conditions in which you were driving (i.e. snow or slippery conditions, etc), this may have caused this to engage. It may also be possible that this was engaged...
I have a Cadillac SRX, 2016, do need the following services done and if so when, Differential service and transfer case service?
Hi There, Your differential fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/differential-gear-oil-replacement) should be changed about every 30,000 miles. You may however also want to at least have the differential cover inspected for leaks during every service in between. Since your car only has 12,000 miles...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Volkswagen Eos
The The Eos is the practical convertible lover’s dream. With a hard top and four seats, this car breaks tradition by offering luxurious touches at a less-than-luxury price. For those who want an affordable, sporty convertible with a bit more...
How to Buy Good Quality Battery Cables
When When your car won’t start, it’s easy to immediately jump to the battery as the problem. If a voltage test, however, shows that the battery is fine, the issue could very well be the battery cables. These oft-overlooked components...
How To Jumpstart Your Car
A how-to guide to jumpstart your vehicle in the event of a dead battery. You'll need jumper cables, safety glasses, and a properly starting car.