I have a 5 year old car, which was always reliable till one night ago my partner left the interior lights on overnight. The next morning I found out my car immobilizer light was not blinking as always, and I found out that the reading light was on but very dim. As the immobilizer is off, I couldn't start the car. I know at this point that the battery had been drained by the light overnight. I then bought myself a small battery charger, which the guy at the shop suggested and charged the battery for about 10 hours. Re install the battery back to the car, and nothing happened. Any suggestion? does it mean i need a new battery to replace? The old battery itself is about 5 years old.
2007-03-03 22:29:03 · 13 answers · asked by luke78 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You got 5 years out of a battery? Pat yourself on the back. The battery has given it's all, old son and it's time to get another. BTW, don't blame the partner. If the interior light was the final straw, the battery was about to shuffle off the mortal coil anyway. At least you did not get stranded down at the mall.
2007-03-04 00:59:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some battery chargers have an internal relay which won't allow them to charge a totally depleated battery. It's possible your new charger is like that. Did you try using another vehicle to jump your car? With a totally dead battery you'll need to hook up the cables and let the other vehicle run for a few minutes to get a small charge into your battery before attempting to start your car, while the jumper cables are still attached. This is also a way to put enough of a charge into your battery for the charger to trip the internal relay and begin charging your battery.
Regardless, if your battery is 5 years old it's time for a replacement.
2007-03-06 11:34:57 · answer #2 · answered by nick_nunya2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the battery to an autozone or auto repair shop, alot of times they will test the battery for free that way you can be sure. I have found in the past that when a battery won't hold a charge that it means there is a dead cell and a new battery is needed. Good luck.
2007-03-04 00:08:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
buy a battery. the old one was on it's last legs if a reading light killed it over night. just make sure you get a strong enough battery for the car. don't get the cheapest battery that fits, get the most powerful one with the longest reserve capacity that fits. interstate is the best, in my opinion, from years of seeing how long they last.
2007-03-03 23:33:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah you need a new battery.. 5 years is over the life expectancy of any auto battery... You likely have a dead cell in fact..
2007-03-03 22:33:47 · answer #5 · answered by darchangel_3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the battery charger does not detect an acceptable level of resistance from a battery it shuts down to protect itself. hence no charge. put another battery on charge with your one and it will start charging both. this slave battery can be removed after a couple of hours and your battery will then charge normally when internal resistance has increased. make sure of electrolite levels over plates.
2007-03-04 10:37:59 · answer #6 · answered by Mick W 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a battery that old could have gotten damaged by the drain (buckled internal plates that shorted out). just go get another battery
2007-03-03 22:36:27 · answer #7 · answered by oldguy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be that the battery is so low that the charge you've put in hasn't registered yet. if your battery charger is only putting a low trickle charge in it might be worth leaving it charging for a lot longer.
most battery chargers will have an led that indicates if the battery is badly damaged.
i'm not an expert but it's worth leaving it charging for longer then trying again x
2007-03-03 22:37:55 · answer #8 · answered by aria 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Take your battery to any motorist shop and they will test it free of charge ,and fit you a new battery ,if you need one .
2007-03-04 00:20:32 · answer #9 · answered by Mick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been there. Done that. New battery I'm afraid. It was probably on it's way out anyway so your partner has probably done you a favour.
2007-03-03 22:40:14 · answer #10 · answered by coffee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋