Is it bad to let your car idle with the AC on?

Is it bad to let your car idle with the AC on?

To answer your question having the AC ON while idling will hurt the engine if the engine can’t maintain a recommended operating temperature, no cold weather can stop an engine from overheating without a radiator system.

Is idling bad for battery?

Over time, idling can cause your head gasket, spark plugs, or cylinder rings to deteriorate and stop working. Drains car battery. Idling does not allow your battery to charge and causes it to strain.

How long can you let car idle with AC on?

But setting my environmental preferences aside, you can let any car idle with the AC on for a long time without doing any harm. As long as the cooling system is working properly, you should be able to sit in any modern car you buy and let it idle indefinitely. Or at least until you run out of gas.

Can a relay drain your battery?

A failed ECM power relay can also cause a battery drain or dead battery. If the relay shorts it can leave power on to the computer, even when the vehicle is turned off. This will place a parasitic drain on the battery, which will eventually cause it to go dead.

Can a car battery be drained by idling?

Can idling a car kill a battery? Idling a car won’t kill or drain your battery, unless your battery has a problem holding a charge or your car is heavily laden with high-energy consuming electrical accessories.

How does an idle alternator affect a car battery?

by John Papiewski. When your car idles, the engine and alternator run slowly. The alternator provides enough electricity to charge the battery. If you use high-powered accessories, the idling alternator can’t keep up with electrical demand. The battery makes up the difference, draining it.

Can a bad alternator drain a car battery?

A car alternator recharges the battery and powers certain electrical systems like lights, radio, air-conditioning, and automatic windows. If your alternator has a bad diode, your battery can drain. The bad alternator diode can cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is shut off, and you end up in the morning with a car that won’t start.

What causes a car battery to drain in the morning?

If your alternator has a bad diode, your battery can drain. The bad alternator diode can cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is shut off, and you end up in the morning with a car that won’t start. 5. Extreme Temperature