Author | Message |
HELP! Car question. . .I'm so dumb about this stuff. . . So, a truck was parked for two weeks. Went to turn it on, nada. Engine didn't try to turn over, interior lights didn't come on, totally dead (something must have been left on, though it's not clear what).
Went to try to jump it, at first the interior lights came on but nothing happened with the ignition. After that first attempt, then the interior lights didn't even come back on. Let it sit and run for 5 or 10 minutes, tried again, still nothing. The question is, is the battery toast? Could somebody with one of those charging packs maybe get it to jump, or if it has been really drained for two weeks, is it just beyond saving? Trying to decide whether to spend money I don't have on having somebody come try, or to just buy a new battery and put it in. ? oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
If the battery is dead, it woulda took a charge, is it clickin(or any noise at all)at all when ya turn the key? well first, I would try, check the battery cables, make sure they are not coroded or any interference, then try jumping it again, let it sit for a while, getting a good charge. If nothing, might be the alternater went bad.
Good Luck | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Moderator | I don't know little to nothing about this stuff....but I don't think trying a new battery would hurt. In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular. |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Let it sit and run for 5 or 10 minutes, tried again, still nothing
i'm confused... did it start? if it did it could be you didn't let the truck run long enough to charge the battery if mine had been dead i would let it run for half an hour or so | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Igottixs4det said: If the battery is dead, it woulda took a charge, is it clickin(or any noise at all)at all when ya turn the key? well first, I would try, check the battery cables, make sure they are not coroded or any interference, then try jumping it again, let it sit for a while, getting a good charge. If nothing, might be the alternater went bad.
Good Luck No click. Would the alternator make it be just completely and totally dead like that? oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Sweeny79 said: I don't know little to nothing about this stuff....but I don't think trying a new battery would hurt.
Except financially. That's the problem. oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
emm said: Let it sit and run for 5 or 10 minutes, tried again, still nothing
i'm confused... did it start? if it did it could be you didn't let the truck run long enough to charge the battery if mine had been dead i would let it run for half an hour or so No, it didn't start. So, there is a correlation with how long it runs? We weren't sure. Usually when I've jumped a car they start right away. oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
http://www.cartalk.com/ ask Tom and Ray! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
HereToRockYourWorld said: emm said: Let it sit and run for 5 or 10 minutes, tried again, still nothing
i'm confused... did it start? if it did it could be you didn't let the truck run long enough to charge the battery if mine had been dead i would let it run for half an hour or so No, it didn't start. So, there is a correlation with how long it runs? We weren't sure. Usually when I've jumped a car they start right away. they should. did it run fine before it sat for two weeks? i would try some different booster cables like igot said if it's dead then it's dead doubtful a new battery would help if you can't get it to boost (edit... if a vehicle is running it should have the power to boost yours... the half hour i was referring to was letting your vehicle run after it's been boosted) [Edited 1/21/07 13:08pm] | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
HereToRockYourWorld said: Igottixs4det said: If the battery is dead, it woulda took a charge, is it clickin(or any noise at all)at all when ya turn the key? well first, I would try, check the battery cables, make sure they are not coroded or any interference, then try jumping it again, let it sit for a while, getting a good charge. If nothing, might be the alternater went bad.
Good Luck No click. Would the alternator make it be just completely and totally dead like that? Might be the alternator. How long has it been since the battery has been replaced? | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
Ex-Moderator | car, schmar.
Take the bus! I shouldn't talk. I still haven't found a new car. But it's warmed up here and the forecast looks good so I should be able to keep driving my current car for at least another week. |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
CarrieMpls said: car, schmar.
Take the bus! I shouldn't talk. I still haven't found a new car. But it's warmed up here and the forecast looks good so I should be able to keep driving my current car for at least another week. It's not my car, it's Mary's. If my car died right now, I would indeed just take the bus. And yeay for not having to make decisions or spend money for another week! oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
emm said: HereToRockYourWorld said: No, it didn't start. So, there is a correlation with how long it runs? We weren't sure. Usually when I've jumped a car they start right away. they should. did it run fine before it sat for two weeks? i would try some different booster cables like igot said if it's dead then it's dead doubtful a new battery would help if you can't get it to boost (edit... if a vehicle is running it should have the power to boost yours... the half hour i was referring to was letting your vehicle run after it's been boosted) [Edited 1/21/07 13:08pm] Oh, I gotcha. Yeah, it ran fine before the two weeks. oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
gemini13 said: HereToRockYourWorld said: No click. Would the alternator make it be just completely and totally dead like that? Might be the alternator. How long has it been since the battery has been replaced? Not sure exactly. . . not terribly long. If the accessory lights don't come on, doesn't that mean it's the battery? I thought the alternator was just for when the car is running. But, I'm asking because I'm clueless, so. . . oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
I do this stuff for a living. I deal with dead batteries everyday
If your battery was in bad shape to begin with the combination of the cold and small always on things in your car (like the clock) will kill it. If you know how to remove it you can take it to almost any chain auto store/service center and they should be able to test it for free. If the car won't even jump you almost certainly need a battery. Then when that is installed you can bring the car to the same type of place to have the alternator checked. Le prego di non toccare la macchina per favore! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
ThirdandFinal said: I do this stuff for a living. I deal with dead batteries everyday
If your battery was in bad shape to begin with the combination of the cold and small always on things in your car (like the clock) will kill it. If you know how to remove it you can take it to almost any chain auto store/service center and they should be able to test it for free. If the car won't even jump you almost certainly need a battery. Then when that is installed you can bring the car to the same type of place to have the alternator checked. Thank you kindly. oh noes, prince is gonna soo me!!1! | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |
prob need a battery and an alternator hon. | |
- E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |