Car batteries are fading and ruinous rodents are colonizing engine compartments as the coronavirus keeps many cars parked at home.
Dead batteries prompted 40% of AAA’s calls for service in April, compared with 20% in April 2019, the organization’s Greater Hartford spokeswoman, Amy Parmenter, said.
Some vehicles draw more electrical power while parked with the engine off. Called “parasitic drain," electrical current goes to engine computers and electronic control modules for power windows, mirrors and other accessories.
Also, older car batteries fizzle faster, said Don Cusson, owner of Cusson Automotive Inc. in South Windsor. Mechanics advise people to take a 20-minute cruise at least once a week to keep the battery charged.