Does ACC Drain The Car Battery? - Vehicle Freak

• Brian Onyango

Updated on April 8, 2024

Most modern cars come with new sophisticated features. Among these features is the ACC or Accessory Mode. This feature is available in most available cars with an automatic transmission.

When this feature is turned on, the car will maintain its electronic accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner, even when the engine is turned off. While this may be a great feature, what most people think of is whether or not the ACC feature drains the car battery.

You can leave your car in ACC without fear of it draining your battery. The only time that the ACC feature will drain your battery is if you turn on some of the other accessories such as the heater or air conditioner. If you do have these accessories on, then your battery will slowly drain.

The bottom line is that the ACC feature does not drain your car battery unless you have other accessories turned on. Just be sure to use it sparingly and you’ll be fine.

What Is ACC

To get more insight into this question, we first need to know what ACC is. ACC is an abbreviation that stands for Accessory Mode.

This is a feature in most modern cars that allows the car to turn on its electronic accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner, even when the engine is turned off. This feature is available in most available cars with an automatic transmission.

How Does ACC Work

When you turn on your car’s ACC, the battery will provide power to the car’s computer and keep it running. This will allow the car to maintain all its electronic accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner, even when the engine is turned off.

The ACC system works using a relay. A relay is an electrical switch that is activated by an electromagnet. When the electromagnet is turned on, it will allow the current to flow through the relay and activate the switch.

The ACC system in your car has a dedicated circuit that uses a small amount of current to flow through the electromagnet and keep it activated.

How to Activate ACC?

Different vehicle models have unique ways to activate their ACC. For example, some cars have a dedicated ACC button while others will automatically enter ACC mode when you turn off the engine and open the door.

Here is a guide for different models:

• For Push to Start – The keyless ignition has become a popular feature in many new cars. If your car has this feature, then activating the ACC is quite easy. All you need to do is press the “Start” button without depressing the brake pedal. This will cause the engine to turn off but all the accessories will remain on.
• For Key Ignition – If your car has a key ignition, then activating the ACC is also quite easy. All you need to do is turn the key to the “Accessory” position without starting the engine. This will cause the accessories to turn on but the engine will remain off.

Can Your Car Battery Die While on ACC

As we already mentioned, the ACC is designed to use a small amount of current to flow through the electromagnet and keep it activated. This means that it will not have any effect on your car battery unless you have other accessories turned on.

However, there are times when you can leave your car in ACC and the battery will slowly die. Some of these conditions include;

• When you turn on some of the other accessories such as the heater or air conditioner.
• In case you have a faulty relay.
• When your car battery is old and weak.
• If your car’s alternator is not working correctly.

How to Prevent Your Battery From Dying While in ACC

You can prevent your car from dying while in ACC mode by following these tips:

1. Don’t use the heater or air conditioner while your car is in ACC mode.
2. Make sure all lights and electronic accessories are turned off when you’re not using them.
3. If you have to use your electronic accessories, do so for short periods.
4. Conserve your power by planning ahead.
5. When you know you’ll be sitting in traffic or parked for a while, turn off your car.

These tips will help prevent your battery from dying while in ACC mode. By following these simple tips, you can avoid being stranded with a dead battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Is It Safe to Play Radio in ACC?

As a thumb rule for new cars, it is advisable not to play the radio for more than 30 minutes in ACC mode. Older cars may have a different time frame and you should check your car manual for specific instructions. However, this can also vary depending on the quality of your car battery.

How Often Should I Use ACC Mode?

You can use ACC mode as often as you need to. However, if you find that your car battery is dying more frequently than normal, it is advisable to take your car to a mechanic to have it checked out.

What Are the Disadvantages of ACC Mode?

There are a few disadvantages of ACC mode. First, it can drain your car battery if you use it for long periods or forget to turn off your lights and electronic accessories.

Second, it can be hard to restart your car if the battery is completely drained. Finally, if you use ACC mode too often, it can wear down your car’s starter and alternator.

Is It Bad to Leave My Car in Accessory Mode?

Using ACC is not bad. However, you should ensure that you don’t use it for extended periods and that all lights and electronic accessories are turned off when not in use. If your car battery dies while in ACC mode, it can be difficult to restart your car.

Can I Use My Phone While in ACC Mode?

Yes, you can use your phone while in ACC mode. Although you should keep in mind that using your phone will drain your car battery faster. If you must use your phone, do so for short periods.

Can I Have ACC Installed in My Car?

ACC is a feature that comes standard with the car’s ignition system. Adding this feature to your car can be done by a professional car mechanic. Although, it is not necessary to have ACC installed in your car, as you can still use the feature without it.

What Is the Difference Between ACC and ON Mode?

The main difference between ACC and ON mode is that in ACC mode, your car’s accessories can be used without running the engine. In ON mode, the engine must be running to power the accessories.

ACC mode uses less fuel than ON mode because the engine is not running. However, ACC mode will drain your car battery faster than ON mode. ON mode is better for long periods as it won’t drain your car battery.

ACC mode is useful for short periods when you need to use your car’s accessories without running the engine.

Conclusion

You may leave your automobile in ACC without the worry of draining your battery. You can even leave your car in accessory mode all night and it will not have any impact on the lifespan of your battery.

The sole time that the ACC function will drain your battery is if you enable some of the other features, such as the heater or air conditioner. If you have these devices turned on, your battery will deplete gradually.

However, if you switch off all of the equipment and let your vehicle idle in accessory mode, there will be no effect on the life of your battery.

Here are some other articles to read:

How to Listen to Radio Without Draining Car Battery

Can a Bad Car Battery Cause Computer Problems?

How Long Does a Car Battery Last?