2007-05-12 13:17:15 · 7 answers · asked by nonnynonny2000 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Glen W has the right idea...an alternator is more of a battery maintainer than charger and can be burned out by trying to make it charge a dead battery. Normally, when you start your car, the battery provides the high amps for the starter to operate...once started, the alternator provides the current for operating the car and recharging the battery which has only been partially discharged. I always tell people when they jump start a dead car from another to leave the cables attached for a good 20 minutes and run them at a high idle like 1500 RPM's to split the charging load between two alternators--one on the jump car and one on the dead battery car.
2007-05-12 16:35:12 · answer #1 · answered by paul h 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The battery will charge itself on idle (assuming the charging system is working properly and the battery is still able to hold charge) but driving the car will charge it up faster. You should go to a garage and get your battery and charging system tested that it is working OK. When a battery gets old, it will stop holding a full charge. Or you could have a faulty alternator so the battery is not charging. It should only take a few minutes for a garage to check this, and many will do it for free.
2016-05-17 03:44:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at least 15 minutes. idle doesn't charge a battery very well i advise driving for at least 15 minutes with you head lights on to stop the battery from becoming to hot and causing damage
2007-05-12 13:21:55 · answer #3 · answered by potboi2001 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The alternator of you car trying to charge a dead battery is not on its list of things to do.The alternators only job is to keep your battery charged.If you ask the alternator to charge a dead battery the chance of burning up the alternator is very good.A good battery charger is what you need to bring the battery up to normal level.
2007-05-12 14:30:23 · answer #4 · answered by HyperGforce 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Drive the car for awhile, idling does a poor job of recharging
2007-05-12 13:24:18 · answer #5 · answered by azohawk 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have been told an hour at idle which is not good for your car. 20 min. of driving is the way to go.
2007-05-12 13:27:09 · answer #6 · answered by Richard F 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you need to drive it for about 20 minutes for the battery to get enough charge to be able to restart the car.
2007-05-12 13:20:26 · answer #7 · answered by mac227@sbcglobal.net 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋