Have you ever been driving down the road listening to the radio when you see a weird notice on your car’s infotainment system? Modern cars have the ability to let you know if something is going wrong.
What does it mean when your car says system off to save battery? This notice means that your car battery is low. For some reason or another, your car battery has drained to a point where the car may be disabled.
What does it mean when your car says system off to save battery?
The warning message may show up on your dash your infotainment system. The first thing to do is stay calm. The notice is telling you that your battery is getting low so you have should have enough time to react accordingly.
When we drive to start our cars the battery is mainly used to give it a jump start. After the engine is running the alternator provides most of the power and it charges your battery back up. If for some reason your battery is being used to keep your car running you may have a problem. While the message that says, “system off to save battery” it isn’t an emergency. It just means that there is an issue with your charging system.
What can cause my battery to go low
Alternator
If your alternator is bad it could be the reason why your battery is low. The battery is supposed to get charged up by the alternator when the engine is running. As the combustion cycle runs it spins your serpentine belt that is connected to the alternator.
The alternator then charges up the battery after the electricity is converted from AC to DC. If your alternator isn’t producing enough electricity to keep the battery charged then it can get low.
Now if the alternator is working at all then your battery will be used as a power source. Your battery will slowly drain until it is completely drained. Normally you will see a battery light on your dash when the alternator or a charging system component is bad.
Accessories
Extra accessories can cause your battery to drain. This like wenches, amps, or other accessories can drain the battery. If your battery isn’t strong enough to handle all of the additions it can drain your battery. You can then get a “system off to save battery” notice.
Leaving lights on
Leaving your lights on can drain your car’s battery. When you go to start it may struggle to get going. If the battery is low enough chances are you’ll get the low battery warning. If you were able to get the car started then you should be able to drive around and let the battery get charged back up.
Other accessories which get left on can drain your mattery as well. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure that all of your extras are turned off or unplugged. Otherwise, you may end up with a low battery
Will my car shut off?
If you have the “system off to save battery” warning, your car could possibly shut off. If your alternator isn’t working and your battery is getting drained it’s a matter of time before the car turns off.
The car’s engine recognizes that the charge of the battery is low so it turns off certain accessories so your battery can last the longest. In this case, it’s best to get somewhere that you can have your battery tested or replaced.
If you ignore this low battery notice then you may end up stuck on the side of the road.
How can I get my battery tested?
DIY testing
| Image | Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Battery Tester | Multiple tests, Gives printout, Works with any car |
Now more than ever people work in their own cars. With the quick delivery of Amazon and with the Auto Parts stores popping up everywhere you can get the tools to test the battery yourself. Something like a multimeter would do a good job of testing the voltage.
Although, if your voltage is good you may need a more advanced battery tester. Something that will check to see if there are bad cells or if your alternator is outputting enough voltage. These testers can be bought for a relatively low price. You can figure out what’s wrong with your car without having to shell out mechanic rates
Take it to an auto parts store
Another option is to take your vehicle to an Auto Parts store. Most of these stores will test your battery for free. Simply ask an associate if they provide battery tests. In a few minutes, you will get results of your battery’s status.
While you are there you can purchase a battery if you need one. Another perk of the auto part stores is that they will install the battery for free.
Take it to a mechanic
If you have a local mechanic you go to odds are they can test your battery for you. They will be able to advise you on what needs to be replaced. After you figure out what’s wrong you end hire them to fix your car and get you back on the road.
What to do if the notice goes away.
If the notice goes away should you just ignore it? In some rare cases, there can be a power blip that may cause an excessive drain of your battery. Although, if your dash told you that your battery is low odds are there is a problem somewhere. Even if everything goes back to normal it wouldn’t hurt to get a free battery check.
Otherwise, you could end up with a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. And if you don’t have AAA you might have to spend your hard-earned money to hire a tow truck