My alternator is shot and the garage is ten miles away. Temps are in the single digits here. The car needs about twenty minutes warm-up time. Once I get it started can I run the heater if the battery is connected to the charger and not lose battery power?
2006-12-05 12:16:12 · 6 answers · asked by upmary49878 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Yes it will help keep the battery as charged as it can be. Especially if its a strong/higher amp charger. It will give all it can if needed and most are automatic where they shutoff when there is no need for more amps.You can read about charging systems here for those who don't know http://painintheexhaust.blogspot.com
2006-12-05 12:38:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your alternator is shot using a charger will only charge a low battery, not warm up the engine at all. Heat is provided by the coolant running through the engine and getting up to temperature, then if you turn on the heater blower motor that will demand energy from your defunked alternator. In turn not charge your battery properly while driving, or not give the proper voltage to charge battery. If I may suggest, check the following.
Check the battery cables. Many time if you see a gray substance on the battery post ( corrosion ) that will be a major cause for the battery not to charge. Clean them with water and baking soda. And when reattaching cable to battery post apply a small amount of grease . This will stop any corrosion to form in the future.
But if the alternator is shot replace.
2006-12-05 20:40:10 · answer #2 · answered by Hemicharger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on your car and your charger.
First the heater fan takes a lot of amps, your charger might not be able to keep up.
Second, if your car has electronic fuel injection (read: not a carburetor)... forget it. It'll drain your battery too fast.
Third, cold batteries lose most of their capacity. You'll want your battery to be nice and warm, 80-100 degrees. Car batteries are dense so it won't lose much temperature on the trip. Best way to warm a battery is to (over)charge it.
If you're sharp enough about cars to do this sort of thing, and you are short enough on money you don't just tow, then maybe you should learn to fix your own car and save a fortune on garage repairs. Alternators are easy on most cars.
2006-12-05 21:06:58 · answer #3 · answered by Wolf Harper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what I think you are asking is can you run the car while the battery charger is connected because either your battery or alternator is bad. The answer would be no. If you are running the engine with the battery charger on it...it will not let the battery charger do it's job...the battery charger does not replace the work of the alternator. My suggestion would be for you to charge the battery...start the car and get to the shop as quickly as possible to affect the repairs needed.
Good luck
2006-12-05 20:22:49 · answer #4 · answered by Kenneth S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you have a real good battery, charge it to full charge with the charger, don't run anything electrical, and you may make the ten miles to get it repaired before the battery runs down..
2006-12-05 20:21:23 · answer #5 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh for heavens sake, call a tow truck. How much can a 10 mile tow be?
2006-12-05 20:20:18 · answer #6 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋