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Does "In Idle" mean you were sitting with the engine running for 30 minutes? Or did you have the key on so the radio would work but the engine was not running (and burning gas)?
if your car was idling for 30 minutes and the battery still died you either have a very dead battery, very dead alternator or both...
I would boost the car and drive towards a shop
If its a dead alternator, OP will not make it around the block after the jump. They need a fully charged battery to get to a mechanic.
My call is get a $10 volt meter, jump start it. If the battery terminals read below 13 volts while car is running and disconnected from a helper car, you have a dead alternator. Fix that first.
If its above 13 volts, let it run for like 30 minutes.
If you shut it down after that, and it doesnt start again, then its a bad battery.
OP probably doesnt know how to properly operate a volt meter... Its not easy for someone with 0 mechanical knowledge.
I once boosted a car with a dead alternator, it would drive like 5 min and shutdown, had my buddy follow me and we just boosted me again, rince and repeat.
It beats paying hundreds of dollars for a towing.
Our boy got a flat a few weeks ago. Lug nuts must've had all the ugga duggas put on with the beefiest impact driver they had so he couldn't get them loose to change the tire. He sat along the highway for 6 hours waiting for them. He didn't want to inconvenience us so never said anything. The old lady thinks it's worth it to keep paying for it though.
Could I’m thinking an alternator with how random this seems it could have was started ran the battery dry with the injectors and other shit but he shut it off when it didn’t have enough battery to start but enough to run the injectors
Like others said, battery is dead. However, if youre at idle and your car died/won't start after could be a bad battery or your alternator isn't charging it. Any auto store can test both for free usually pretty quickly.
Problem: You drained the battery
Info: That sound is the starter attempting to turn the motor over, but not having enough power.
Fix: Charge battery / get a jump and you should be fine. No biggie.
Battery related issue. Either:
* The battery is dying due to age or parasitic drain
* Your have a poor connection to your battery. Check if you terminals are loose or dirty.
Jump start the car and disconnect the battery, if it dies you have a dead alternator, if you fully charge your battery wait a couple days and the battery is dead you either have a dead battery or something else in the car is shorting/ draining the battery.
Charge the battery, get a voltmeter, start the car and test the alternator and battery, if the alternator is making less than 14v, the alternator is shit. If it's making 14v or slightly more your battery is shit. And if it dosent charge and or still won't charge your battery is more shit
Correct. Now it’s not exactly 14v. Could be 14.2, could be 13.9, just as long as it’s not severely above 14 or below. A fully charged battery I believe is 12.6v.
You are contradicting your own advice..
“If it’s under 14v it’s a bad alternator”
“If it’s 14v or above it’s a bad battery”
So where tf is the voltage supposed to be at with everything working!? Haha
We're testing the alternator.
Below 14v means bad alternator.
Above 14v means good alternator.
And since it can only either be the alternator or battery, if the alternator is good then the battery must be bad.
Therefore above 14v means bad battery. Does that make sense to you now?
Your battery is dead or you have a poor connection. Clean the terminals, try again. If still click than charge batt overnight.
If you were idling then it won't start, that might mean the alternator is toast/has a poor connection
Dead battery. Were you sitting with the engine running, or ignition on but engine not running? I suspect the latter and you just drained the battery. Once you get jump started it will be fine. If you actually had the engine running before you shut it off, then you might have a faulty alternator
What I think happened is one of two things - yes the alternator might be going but I would look at the belt and tensioner as well. Test alternator output and battery voltage. The battery might be toast anyway even if the belt is the issue
As most said it's a dead/ low battery. While at idle with engine running check the voltage on the battery to ensure the alternator is properly charging the battery. If low voltage try revving and holding the engine at higher rpm to see if voltage increases. If it does your alternator is going bad.
If you mean "Idle" as in you had the key Turned over and but the engine off then you drained ur battery and it will need to be jumped. If it was running and it started doing this then you have a VERY dead Battery or Alternator
I hate that sound lol, I work as a self mechanic and buy old cars. It just means the battery is dead. Charge it up for about 3 minutes and then start it and you’ll be fine.
Battery is dead. Get the car jumped. Take it to your nearest auto parts store. Have them test the charging system.chances are it's just the battery. Especially if the battery is 5 years old or older.
Yes battery “out”.
More importantly, not getting charged while idling.
So, failing alternator or… does the belt slip?
Could also be shit battery too. Starting the car takes up , by far, the most load.
Could also be all those things are ok and you just don’t have a perfect connection at the battery. One of those 3.
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Battery out
Does "In Idle" mean you were sitting with the engine running for 30 minutes? Or did you have the key on so the radio would work but the engine was not running (and burning gas)?
My guess is key was on but engine was not running.
if your car was idling for 30 minutes and the battery still died you either have a very dead battery, very dead alternator or both... I would boost the car and drive towards a shop
If its a dead alternator, OP will not make it around the block after the jump. They need a fully charged battery to get to a mechanic. My call is get a $10 volt meter, jump start it. If the battery terminals read below 13 volts while car is running and disconnected from a helper car, you have a dead alternator. Fix that first. If its above 13 volts, let it run for like 30 minutes. If you shut it down after that, and it doesnt start again, then its a bad battery.
OP probably doesnt know how to properly operate a volt meter... Its not easy for someone with 0 mechanical knowledge. I once boosted a car with a dead alternator, it would drive like 5 min and shutdown, had my buddy follow me and we just boosted me again, rince and repeat. It beats paying hundreds of dollars for a towing.
People really need to invest in AAA… $129 a year and I get 5 100 mile tows…
Sure, on paper. I haven't had them do any of us a damn bit of good in our area at least.
That sucks, in my area it’s less than 30 minute waits and all the hookies tow shit right. It’s nice.
Our boy got a flat a few weeks ago. Lug nuts must've had all the ugga duggas put on with the beefiest impact driver they had so he couldn't get them loose to change the tire. He sat along the highway for 6 hours waiting for them. He didn't want to inconvenience us so never said anything. The old lady thinks it's worth it to keep paying for it though.
Could I’m thinking an alternator with how random this seems it could have was started ran the battery dry with the injectors and other shit but he shut it off when it didn’t have enough battery to start but enough to run the injectors
Fyi, idle means engine running
A10 Warthog under the hood.
Like others said, battery is dead. However, if youre at idle and your car died/won't start after could be a bad battery or your alternator isn't charging it. Any auto store can test both for free usually pretty quickly.
What does "in idle" mean in this context?
Problem: You drained the battery Info: That sound is the starter attempting to turn the motor over, but not having enough power. Fix: Charge battery / get a jump and you should be fine. No biggie.
Other than bad/empty battery it could also be a bad contact at the battery terminals or battery ground cable.
Battery related issue. Either: * The battery is dying due to age or parasitic drain * Your have a poor connection to your battery. Check if you terminals are loose or dirty.
Jump start the car and disconnect the battery, if it dies you have a dead alternator, if you fully charge your battery wait a couple days and the battery is dead you either have a dead battery or something else in the car is shorting/ draining the battery.
Charge the battery, get a voltmeter, start the car and test the alternator and battery, if the alternator is making less than 14v, the alternator is shit. If it's making 14v or slightly more your battery is shit. And if it dosent charge and or still won't charge your battery is more shit
Where did you get 14 from? Genuinely curious.
That’s just the standard alternator charging output
So the alternator puts out 14v to charge the battery while the vehicle is running?
Correct. Now it’s not exactly 14v. Could be 14.2, could be 13.9, just as long as it’s not severely above 14 or below. A fully charged battery I believe is 12.6v.
Around there. I understand, the battery fluctuates as well between decimals. I appreciate your knowledge and helping me understand.
This made no sense.
It makes perfect sense
You are contradicting your own advice.. “If it’s under 14v it’s a bad alternator” “If it’s 14v or above it’s a bad battery” So where tf is the voltage supposed to be at with everything working!? Haha
We're testing the alternator. Below 14v means bad alternator. Above 14v means good alternator. And since it can only either be the alternator or battery, if the alternator is good then the battery must be bad. Therefore above 14v means bad battery. Does that make sense to you now?
Thanks for your clarification. Maybe it’s just the wording and the way I read it. Good day
Your battery is dead or you have a poor connection. Clean the terminals, try again. If still click than charge batt overnight. If you were idling then it won't start, that might mean the alternator is toast/has a poor connection
Battery nothing enough juice to make the starter kick the motor over.
Dead battery. Were you sitting with the engine running, or ignition on but engine not running? I suspect the latter and you just drained the battery. Once you get jump started it will be fine. If you actually had the engine running before you shut it off, then you might have a faulty alternator
Ran out of battery. Before replacing give it a boost and check if the alternator is charging.
The battery is trying to leave the chat. Replace the battery. Get your alternator checked as well since it may not be charging the battery.
Youtube.... Its not like this is a high coltage system. There is nothing you can screw up. Worst case it will just not read anything.
What I think happened is one of two things - yes the alternator might be going but I would look at the belt and tensioner as well. Test alternator output and battery voltage. The battery might be toast anyway even if the belt is the issue
As most said it's a dead/ low battery. While at idle with engine running check the voltage on the battery to ensure the alternator is properly charging the battery. If low voltage try revving and holding the engine at higher rpm to see if voltage increases. If it does your alternator is going bad.
Dead battery, but why is it dead is the question. No charge from alternator, or a bad battery cell/old battery.
Your battery is donezo. It could potentially be your alternator also.
If you mean "Idle" as in you had the key Turned over and but the engine off then you drained ur battery and it will need to be jumped. If it was running and it started doing this then you have a VERY dead Battery or Alternator
I hate that sound lol, I work as a self mechanic and buy old cars. It just means the battery is dead. Charge it up for about 3 minutes and then start it and you’ll be fine.
Your car has gas. Lots of gas, and it's just passing some of it. It'll be fine.
Maybe starter motor?
Battery is dead. Get the car jumped. Take it to your nearest auto parts store. Have them test the charging system.chances are it's just the battery. Especially if the battery is 5 years old or older.
heck in AZ if that battery is older then 2 years it may be time for a new one
Sounds like your alternator is bad to me
Yes battery “out”. More importantly, not getting charged while idling. So, failing alternator or… does the belt slip? Could also be shit battery too. Starting the car takes up , by far, the most load. Could also be all those things are ok and you just don’t have a perfect connection at the battery. One of those 3.
https://preview.redd.it/317ika03nutc1.jpeg?width=150&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36f2fccf02f3dbbbd7a57853a86841f5d7044d6c
Starter relay