Left lights on all day

Slattsy

My neighbour just called, lights are on on the car since 8am.
Safe to assume the battery is fooked then yeah?

Gary ITR

Slattsy wrote: »

My neighbour just called, lights are on on the car since 8am.
Safe to assume the battery is fooked then yeah?

Well has she tried to start it?

MarkR

Turn off the lights and any other power draws. Give it a go. Failing that, whip out the jump leads. Once you start it, take it for a spin. Make sure to park it in an accessible position in case you need to jump it again.

Slattsy

Should i turn off lights and just leave it for a while before trying to start it?

mgbgt1978

You could try either jumping it or charging the battery.
But 9 times out of 10 when a battery has completely discharged it is knackered.
Although they will usually take a recharge they will not hold it for long and it's usually easier to bite the bullet and buy a new battery.

MarkR

The battery charge won't increase until you get the engine running. Is the car outside your house? Know anyone with jumpleads? Put your bonnet up and look puzzled. I'll bet someone will offer to jumpstart it.

Taxi drivers often have jump leads. Do you have any roadside rescue on your car insurance? Where abouts are you?

Slattsy

I'll get jump leads off a neighbour.

I've never done this so wasn't sure if the battery is going to be completely gone. Trip from Dublin to Sligo tomorrow too :-(

Will I need to get a new one?

mack81

once you get it started the trip to Sligo will do it good.

biko

If the lights are still on now it may just have enough juice to start up.
Otherwise get a jump and drive around for a bit.

Let your neighbour know you may need a jump tomorrow too.
The drive to Sligo will recharge the battery fully, no need to replace it.

Slattsy

Ok sound.
I'll jump it soon as I'm nearly home. I'll drive it around for a while. I wasn't sure if the drive to Sligo will help. Was worried I'd need a jump there too!

mgbgt1978

Probably better to get a new battery.
Most motor factors (and auto-electrical places) will only open for a half-day tomorrow so try and sort it out in the morning if you can.
You can jump start it this evening, then drive around for a while, or just leave it running ( lock it with a spare key if you can).
This might give it enough juice to start it in the morning, but my guess is that you will still need to replace it because it will let you down sooner rather than later.
If you can get to an auto-electrician in the morning they can test it properly to see if it will hold a charge. If not at least you will be somewhere that can sell, and fit, a new battery.
BTW how old is the car and have you replaced the battery in it before now ?


edit, sorry Biko but as I said a fully discharged Battery is usually knackered...the only way to tell is to have it load tested (using a tester that very few people at home would have).

mgbgt1978

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

You could try either jumping it or charging the battery.
But 9 times out of 10 when a battery has completely discharged it is knackered.
Although they will usually take a recharge they will not hold it for long and it's usually easier to bite the bullet and buy a new battery.

I had a drain on my batt there recently, completely discharged it a number of times (and I mean totally, mileage etc wasnt even showing on the dash, central locking not working etc) and I thought bye bye battery but my mechanic tested it when he sorted the problem and he said the battery was fine and I haven't had any problem with it over the month or two since.

Slattsy

She started lads, no bother.

Ronnie Beck

Depends on the car too. Older simpler cars I've had seemed more tolerant of a weaker battery, which yours will be now unfortunately. I drained the battery on my old '93 corolla a good few times and it would still start without a bother, but it didn't give you many turn overs to play with if you had a flooded engine or something. Also if you left the radio on for more than twenty minutes without the engine running it wouldn't start.

MadYaker

Does it not beep at you if you turn off the ignition fully and open the doors with the lights still on?? I thought all cars did that.

mgbgt1978

Slattsy wrote: »

She started lads, no bother.

On a jump or on it's own.
Was it just the sidelights that you left on ?

Stella Virgo

MadYaker wrote: »

Does it not beep at you if you turn off the ignition fully and open the doors with the lights still on?? I thought all cars did that.

ahhhh isint it great to be young , and not have driven any pre ECU controlled cars:D

Slattsy

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

On a jump or on it's own.
Was it just the sidelights that you left on ?

On its own, its sound as a pound now.

It was the daytime running lights/xenon that were left on. They can obviously take it!
Was afraid it was the headlights, bit of panic over nothing.