Why did my car battery die while idling?
Your car will run off the battery until it uses the battery charge up completely. A borderline alternator may provide enough charge in normal driving but too little during idle. In this case, the car’s ignition system and accessories will drain the battery when the engine idles.
Can you recharge a dead battery by idling?
Do Car Batteries Charge While the Engine Is Idling? The answer is ‘YES’, yes the car battery does charge while the engine is idling. Again, assuming that the battery can still hold a charge. Then the alternator is producing AC current, thereby charging the battery while your car is idling.
How long does it take to charge a dead car battery while idling?
Basically, at idle you can probably get 80 amps out of your alternator. You can charge a flat battery to 80 percent full in about 2 hours, so long as you alternator can manage produce around 14 volts at the battery terminals this whole time.
How long should you idle a car to charge the battery?
If you find any of these cars start easily (the starter spins quickly), battery status is likely quite good, and a short drive or idling for 10 to 15 minutes may be adequate to keep the battery full, if done once every two weeks. If slower cranking is noted, a half hour drive once a week should do the trick.
Why does my car not idle when the battery is dead?
There’s never a good time to have a flat battery, and just when you get that sorted you find the stupid engine won’t idle! I feel your pain, this is exactly what happened to me. So why won’t the car idle after a dead battery? When the car battery goes dead, power to the on-board computer is interrupted.
What to do if your car battery won’t start?
Therefore, you can always give your battery a jump start and see if it can start the engine or not. If your battery fails to start the engine, you need to replace your car’s battery assuming all connections are in good shape.
What to do if your car dies while idling?
Engage the parking brake, start the engine, and let it idle. Pop the hood open. Wiggle the battery cables, including the small wire that connects to the car’s body, if your vehicle has one. If the engine shuts off and the headlights stop working while you do this, you are dealing with a loose, corroded or frayed cable or wire.
How can you tell if your car battery is dead?
Signs the Battery is Dead: When you attempt to start the car, there is a low whining sound. If jump starting gets your engine started and running, but the car will not start again once you turn it off, the battery is probably the problem.