This question and answer appeared in the Wall Street Journal today. I'm not
sure I agree with the answer - the part about the alternator not being up
to the job. What is the thinking the Spridget listers?
Q: If a car battery completely discharges from inadvertently leaving on the
headlights or some other electrical accessory, is it acceptable to just use
the vehicle's generator to replenish the battery (after a jump start) or
must it be professionally recharged by a mechanic?
-- Steven E. Rubin
Great Neck, N.Y.
A: Your car's alternator isn't designed to recharge your battery the way
specialized charging devices can, so your first stop after the jump-start
should be your mechanic's garage for a recharge. Most shops have charging
equipment that also analyzes the battery to determine whether sediment, a
defective cell or some other type of electronic damage is compromising its
power output. Long periods of discharge often harm batteries, leaving them
too weak to reliably start a car, especially in cold weather. Having the
battery checked can save drivers the headache of being stranded. Of course,
a one-time episode of leaving the lights on probably won't cause permanent
damage.
Tim Collins
Midland, MI
1966 AH Sprite
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