Car Wont Start - Click,Click,Click

[Chew_12]

Let my start by saying I am a moron. Now thats out of the way, I got a new stereo in my car and I was looking at it. I turned off the stereo but forgot to turn my car off(but the engine was not running, just turned the key a little), with my a/c on low(yes i know your not supposd to have the ac on when the engine is not running). So I go back to my car about 15 min later and i try to turn on my car and i just hear click click click real fast. Im guessing this is the battery. Am i right?

 

[Alec]

Most likely

 

[aldive]

Jump start it and see if that does it.

 

[AlaskanJack]

My rule of thumb is when I hear click, click, click it means idiot you left asomething on and battery doesn't have enough juice to turn engine over.

turn key on and nothing means battery is drained to low that not even a jump will do until the battery charge gets high enough

So click, click click jump nothing charge battery fro time

 

[Chew_12]

So if the car starts up when i jump it, will the battery be fine if i let it run for a while, or do i need a new battery?

 

[AlaskanJack]

It should be fine just let it run so it will recharge the battery

 

[Chew_12]

ah ok, i hate spending money when i do something stupid. The funny thing is i locked my keys in my car too.haha But I had a extra set of keys laying around.

My next door neigbor came out and shes like "car trouble?" And I was like nope Brain Trouble.

 

[sjjones]

I'd suggest either charging the battery for a time or taking a nice drive before turning it off. You may not get a full charge just starting the car and letting it idle.

 

[aldive]

If it starts, you should be fine, Let it run a whilr.

 

[Alec]

If this happened once and you let the thing charge that's one thing, the battery should be fine.

However, you said this happened after only 15 minutes or so: your battery was on it's way out already.

 

[Chew_12]

Well I was guessing about 15 min it might had been 15 - 30 but im pretty sure not more than 30. I jumped it and it started quickly, I drove it around and now i am letting it idle. I turned if off, then on again and no problems. So im guessing its fine for now or untill it completely dies. Thanks for everyones help.

 

[joehawk]

Personally I would not charge a fully discharged battery with the car alternator. My understanding is that the alternator is not built to put out the amp's at full charge for the length of time needed to recharge the battery. It frequently can burn out one or more diodes in the process. I charge mine with a 110 volt battery charger[wall plugin]. I would check the voltage of the battery after it is fully charged, best way is at the part's store[they will do it for free in the vehicle usually, of course hoping you will be buying their battery if needed lol]. They test it under a simulated load, to see how it deals with a cranking load. Nothing worse than getting stranded somewhere with a dead battery, especially if it gave warning signs

 

[Crankcase]

How old is the battery?

 

[X~FACTOR]

I find that when a battery gets fully drained it will never fully charge again. It'll be good enough to start the truck but it'll never have the same reserve capacity.

 

[sjjones]

X,

Lots of variables including the type and condition of the battery to start with. A decent battery will allow a few near total discharges no problem. If not, lights left on one time would ruin it. Multiple severe discharges can and usually does do permanent damage on your average battery.

 

[Chew_12]

I really cant remeber when I put that battery in. Im guessing around 2 or 3 years ago. It is a duralast Gold and has a warrenty for 3 years.

 

[AlaskanJack]

Well you can take it and have the battery load tested. I think that is what they call it. They can check the battery and let you know its current state.

 

[Chew_12]

Yea I took it to autozone to get it tested, they said that 1 cell is bad and I looked up the warrenty. I had it for like 3 years and 2 months. So I replaced it for 25$.

 

[Alec]

Cool