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My power window failed on me recently. I drained my car battery by trying to get my window up without engine being on. My mechanic says my battery is weak and suggest a new one, but says it should recharge if i drive enough. Is this true? I have a half hour drive to work, is this enough to recharge my battery? Does driving my car more often recharge the battery back to normal or is this just a short term solution? Should I get to sears as soon as I can and get a new battery.
I believe so. Letting a battery sit for a long time is not good for it. That's why they make battery tenders. Also i recently went thru the same thing a few weeks ago. Turns out I learned that car batteries last anywhere from 4-6 years.
My power window failed on me recently. I drained my car battery by trying to get my window up without engine being on. My mechanic says my battery is weak and suggest a new one, but says it should recharge if i drive enough. Is this true? I have a half hour drive to work, is this enough to recharge my battery? Does driving my car more often recharge the battery back to normal or is this just a short term solution? Should I get to sears as soon as I can and get a new battery.
Not a good idea, Mike.
Driving a vehicle with a weak or defective battery, especially due to age, will put an added "drain" on other components which is never a good idea.
Replace the "tired" battery now (the best battery, Optima, is available at Sam's Club for about 150 bucks) or end up with a much higher bill in the future when your alternator and other electrical components head south on you.
A car battery is principally used to start the engine. It is also used to filter or stabilize power and to provide extra power for the ignition, lighting and other accessories when their combined load exceeds the capability of the charging system, i.e., when the engine is idling. It also provides power to the electrical system when the charging system is not operating. The battery lies hidden under the bonnet and is an essential component of your vehicle. Regular care is a must, for if it in bad shape, the car will refuse to move. "Push-start" is a solution but cannot be carried on for long. A well-maintained battery lasts for two years.
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james wilkins
One thing you can be sure of. The battery will not get better. You can drive a while with a weak battery. The alternator will keep it charged. No need to run right out and get a battery but it should be on your shopping list.
To properly determine if you need a new battery it must be properly chaged and then load tested, unless your mechanic did that, he's guessing or trying to make a few extra bucks off you.
A car battery is principally used to start the engine. It is also used to filter or stabilize power and to provide extra power for the ignition, lighting and other accessories when their combined load exceeds the capability of the charging system, i.e., when the engine is idling. It also provides power to the electrical system when the charging system is not operating. The battery lies hidden under the bonnet and is an essential component of your vehicle. Regular care is a must, for if it in bad shape, the car will refuse to move. "Push-start" is a solution but cannot be carried on for long. A well-maintained battery lasts for two years.
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james wilkins
drivenwide.com
A good post except for the life span, I've never had a battery last only 2 years, 4 to 6 is what I've gotten.
I understand the Optima line was bought and is not as good as the older ones were.
Good point, ferretkona . . . but what is, nowadays?
Optimas definitely seem to hold up lots better than most batteries here in the Desert Southwest. A little over two years on the Yellow Top in The Jeep after about eight years on the previous Red Top. Until something better comes along, I'll stick with the Optimas.
Driving a vehicle with a weak or defective battery, especially due to age, will put an added "drain" on other components which is never a good idea.
Weak batteries don't "drain" components, they just lack the ability to start the car and power it when the engine isn't running. A running car with a functioning alternator and regulator doesn't need a battery at all.
That said, a weak battery isn't holding much charge, and once it gets cold, it will most likely not have enough power to turn the engine over, so consider this a warning and go buy a battery now.
And for the record, maintained car batteries can last for very long times, although typically they last 4-6 years. I have a 5 year old battery right now that is still charging fine - if you're only getting 2 years out of a battery, you likely have an electrical system problem.
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car battery life
