Battery dead
10-17-2004, 11:13 PM
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Battery dead
Hi,
I left my lights on last night and forgot to turn them off and this morning my battery was dead. A friend of mine is coming over tommorow to charge the battery but I am wondeirng is this bad for the car? or just the battery and how much of the battery life is lost through doing this?
Thanks
I left my lights on last night and forgot to turn them off and this morning my battery was dead. A friend of mine is coming over tommorow to charge the battery but I am wondeirng is this bad for the car? or just the battery and how much of the battery life is lost through doing this?
Thanks
10-19-2004, 10:42 AM
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e320 2000
Sometimes after a battery "rests" ( no current usage) it will be able to muster enough power to start the car and recharge the battery on its own.
Or you can jump start from another car. Check the car's manual on jump starting -- thereby letting the car recharge itself. This is probably the easiest method to get the car back. ( be careful to follow instructions closely, including grounding the negative ground cable for the dead car to the frame, not the battery).
Or use a battery charger to recharge the unit. I've never had any problem charging my cars using a slow charge unit with the battery in the car. Be patient and slow charge.
Finally, call MB road service if you are concerned with your or your pal's skills. They will get you going for a few bucks.
Or you can jump start from another car. Check the car's manual on jump starting -- thereby letting the car recharge itself. This is probably the easiest method to get the car back. ( be careful to follow instructions closely, including grounding the negative ground cable for the dead car to the frame, not the battery).
Or use a battery charger to recharge the unit. I've never had any problem charging my cars using a slow charge unit with the battery in the car. Be patient and slow charge.
Finally, call MB road service if you are concerned with your or your pal's skills. They will get you going for a few bucks.
10-19-2004, 12:05 PM
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hey
I let it charge for about 2 and half hours... is that good?
I started up the car and it ran fine, drove it around for about 5 minutes.
Can you just turn your car off and re-charge it even if it did not die?
-- The reason Im asking is because I only could let it charge for about 2 1/2 hours because I had to go and wondering should I charge more even though I ran the car for about 5 minutes??
Thanks
I started up the car and it ran fine, drove it around for about 5 minutes.
Can you just turn your car off and re-charge it even if it did not die?
-- The reason Im asking is because I only could let it charge for about 2 1/2 hours because I had to go and wondering should I charge more even though I ran the car for about 5 minutes??
Thanks
10-19-2004, 12:11 PM
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93 320CE, 72 280SE 3.5, 55 220A, 05 E280CDI, 88 Mini Mayfair, 90 Peugeot 205GTI, 04 Mini Cooper
Once it's going it should charge from the alternator on a 15 min or so drive.
I've left batteries on slow charge overnight by mistake and done no harm.
I've left batteries on slow charge overnight by mistake and done no harm.
10-19-2004, 12:15 PM
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k
What Im asking though is, since the car started up fine after 2 hours and 30 minutes and was drove for 5 minutes....
Can I go home and re-charge the batter for another 4 hours??
-- WOuld that be ok to make sure its fully charged and not hurt the alternator?
Can I go home and re-charge the batter for another 4 hours??
-- WOuld that be ok to make sure its fully charged and not hurt the alternator?
10-21-2004, 12:14 PM
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I say, if it starts without any problems don't worry about charging the battery anymore. The battery only gets used during startup, the alternator will charge the battery when the car is running.
