Your Gadgets Are Wrecking Your Car Battery

GPS, iPod connections, satellite radio... all of these gizmos make your commute more pleasant, but it turns out they're probably taking their toll on your car's battery. Makes sense: These devices use juice (sometimes even when the car is turned off), and the heavy drains on your car's electrical system are causing battery life to diminish. The Wall Street Journal has details on this interesting phenomenon, noting that batteries in heavily gadget-modded cars are dying in two years instead of the usual three to five.

Admittedly, a couple of gadgets aren't the big culprits in killing your battery. It's probably more power-hungry items like DVD players and in-car coolers that put a heavier strain on your ride. And of course, the car itself requires more electrical power than ever: Ignition, security systems, climate control, and more all keep a constant tether to the battery, sometimes even if the car isn't running.

What can you do? The WSJ story mentions trickle chargers, which can help extend the life of your battery, but that's really about it. In a nutshell, your car is just another gadget you'll have to contend with: Replacing the battery altogether when it gets weak. Fortunately, doing this with your car is much simpler than doing it with your iPod.

LINK: Why Car Batteries Are Dying Young