How long does it take a dead battery to revive itself?

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
2
71
Goign to jumpstart my Integra, which doesn't have a voltmeter..and was wondering how long I should let it run for before turning off the ignition once it's started.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
You should get a good battery charger and charge the battery up if you can wait.

If you can't wait, you need to drive the car to charge the battery quickly, not just let it idle.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Drive it around. Alternators don't put out much juice at idle.

But a trickle charger would be a better idea.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
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my experience is that any battery that has been allowed to get that low may not be reliable again, even if you are able to initially get it charged up.

they aren't too expensive, so I'd just replace it unless you've got another reason not to (like you're putting the car in storage or something).
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
2
71
I got the battery maybe 2 months ago, and it had a flat tire maybe 2 weeks ago and I finally changed it, and haven't driven it since.
 

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
81
2 weeks on a new battery doesn't make too much sense.

but then again if its like a civic battery its tiny.


I would bring the battery in for a warranty exchange and be done with it. might of gotten a bad battery to begin with as it should take longer then 2 weeks to have a no start.
 

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
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if you don't drive your car for 2 weeks, chances are it'd be dead and not because it's a faulty unit.

i bought a new bosch battery to replace my OEM nissan battery. i drive only once a week or so, and after a week the battery was almost draine.
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
101
Originally posted by: sniperruff
if you don't drive your car for 2 weeks, chances are it'd be dead and not because it's a faulty unit.

i bought a new bosch battery to replace my OEM nissan battery. i drive only once a week or so, and after a week the battery was almost draine.

I have a cheapo walmart everready yellow battery in my F150. I drive it.. lately about once every 3 weeks. Every time I start it, it starts up normal. Most parasitic battery drains (clocks, presets, etc) wont drain a battery down in a couple months, even in super cold weather.

If your car wont start after letting it sit for a week or two, you have a much larger drain that needs to be found out and fixed.
 

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
Depending on the battery's reserve capacity, it could certainly be unable to start a car after sitting for 2 weeks.
 

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
15,555
11,191
136
I've just got a 4year-old cheapo battery in my car, left it sitting for 2.5 weeks over the holidays. Started just fine when it was 20 degrees out. If your battery is dieing in two weeks, you have something wrong.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
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I'll go ahead and say 30 minutes if you're idling. Tow-truck guy who jumped me recommended that time. The battery was just fine after that, with normal driving.