Car Problems - Safe to Drive?

[Anonymous]

Last night I came back to my car after being in a store 25-30 minutes. I don't think the lights had been left on, but I'm not sure. AAA sent someone to charge my battery and they said I should keep the car running for about 40 minutes. I drove straight home (maybe five minutes) and kept the car running in the driveway. I turned off the lights, after a while I did turn the radio on while the car was running. After about 30 minutes, I wanted to check the gas guage so I turned the headlights on so that the display would light up. The car instantly died and could not be restarted.

Did the radio keep the battery from charging? Should I have been driving the car instead of idling it? If AAA gives me another charge will it be okay to drive to the mechanic? I'm scared that if I turn on a blinker or use my power steering or power brakes it may shut off causing a dangerous situation.

Clearly, I know nothing about cars. I would be grateful for any advice DCUM can give me.

[Anonymous]

You need a jump start, then drive to a mechanic.

[Anonymous]

Jump start and take to mechanic, or buy the battery yourself and change it.

Do not stop an restart en route.
Do not use A/C, lights or radio.

We drove for days with such a car, asking for jump starts every time it died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jump start and take to mechanic, or buy the battery yourself and change it.

Do not stop an restart en route.
Do not use A/C, lights or radio.

We drove for days with such a car, asking for jump starts every time it died.

why did you do that?

[Anonymous]

Your alternator its bad, and no longer charging the battery, driving during the day, when using no lights, should get you to a local mechanic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jump start and take to mechanic, or buy the battery yourself and change it.

Do not stop an restart en route.
Do not use A/C, lights or radio.

We drove for days with such a car, asking for jump starts every time it died.

why did you do that?

Some people can’t afford a mechanic, or the part they need. Relax my privileged one

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the alternator to me too. I’ve had two leave me stranded. Both Hondas, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Get your car jump started and then drive to an Auto Zone. They can test the car battery and replace it for you if that is the problem. We had similar issues to what you are describing and Auto Zone found a faulty cylinder in our battery and had it replaced in less than 20min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jump start and take to mechanic, or buy the battery yourself and change it.

Do not stop an restart en route.
Do not use A/C, lights or radio.

We drove for days with such a car, asking for jump starts every time it died.

why did you do that?

Some people can’t afford a mechanic, or the part they need. Relax my privileged one

Big repairs I can understand but you couldn’t afford a new battery?

[Anonymous]

What PPs have said. Take it in. No AC, radio, lights or anything that may drain battery power. Drive mid day when traffic is lighter. Sounds like a bad alternator too.

[Anonymous]

Most likely it is just a dead battery.

Google your car for battery replacement and see if it does not need a meachanic, if you can do it yourself go to autozone and get a battery and they can install.

Some modern cars require a mechanic to install. Like nissans come to mind that you cannot install the battery easily.