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.

?

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

I don't know little to nothing about this stuff....but I don't think trying a new battery would hurt.

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

Igottixs4det said:

No click.

Would the alternator make it be just completely and totally dead like that?

Sweeny79 said:

Except financially. That's the problem.

emm 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.

http://www.cartalk.com/ ask Tom and Ray!

HereToRockYourWorld said:

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]

HereToRockYourWorld said:

Might be the alternator. How long has it been since the battery has been replaced?

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.

CarrieMpls said:

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!

emm said:

Oh, I gotcha. Yeah, it ran fine before the two weeks.

gemini13 said:

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. . .

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.

ThirdandFinal said:

Thank you kindly.

prob need a battery and an alternator hon.