My car keeps dying

paco · 12-07-09, 04:28 PM

Never buy American Cars.

poker_dummy101 · 12-07-09, 04:29 PM

not once a day but you should drive it every so often...the cold could be playing a part as well (if its cold there now)

go take it to walmart, autozone, or any place like that.. they will check all that stuff for free.. like battery, alternator, starter etc etc

pavyracer · 12-07-09, 04:31 PM

You need to drive it at least 20 minutes once a week to not have starting problems.

konck · 12-07-09, 04:32 PM

Is the car shaped like a lemon

big joe 1212 · 12-07-09, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by konck

Is the car shaped like a lemon

PingPong · 12-07-09, 04:33 PM

i agree with pokerdummy, take it to an auto store and get a systems check or whatever it's called. i think autozone does it for free

StraitShooter · 12-07-09, 04:34 PM

buy a battery booster box so you aint gotta kiss no one`s ass next time you need some juice

NOLAKid · 12-07-09, 04:40 PM

Is anyone on here a mechanic?

GELATINOUS CUBE · 12-07-09, 04:41 PM

yeah those battery boost machines are cool.

i bring em to mexico and when my car dies i just hook it up. looks like a huge boom box. with cables.

auto zone will charge up you're battery for free if you take it out with an adjustable wrench and carry it in. that works.

do you listen to the radio alot? i didn't know this in the day. but sitting in your car with your car turned off, bumping 'what comes on a sausage biscuit' over and over, drains your battery.

so, i guess buy a boombox with 20 D batterys, and use that, instead of your car stereo.

smitch124 · 12-07-09, 04:46 PM

You could be pulling too much amperage when the car is off, find a guy with an electrical meter...

They are always friendly

Mudcat · 12-07-09, 04:47 PM

Good responses. Thank you.

The car does not seem like a lemon in any other way. It has been completely reliable for the small amount of driving that I do.

I think it just gets lonely.

AMBlai01 · 12-07-09, 04:48 PM

Drive it at least once every 3 days especially in the winter as the cold will kill the battery quick. If you have had the same battery in the car since you bought it back in 2006 it might behoove you to buy a new battery that will hold a charge better and probably would have this problem less. It really isn't a serious thing and has to do with inactivity more than anything.

Go to sears and buy one of their DieHard batteries (the most expensive one) you probably won't have another issue as those generally are the best. The factory batteries in cars are ALRIGHT but nothing compared to some of those that you can buy.

emoney · 12-07-09, 04:48 PM

Get a trained dog to drive the car for twenty minutes a day.

Mudcat · 12-07-09, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by smitch124

You could be pulling too much amperage when the car is off, find a guy with an electrical meter...

They are always friendly

Say, he does look friendly.

poker_dummy101 · 12-07-09, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by PingPong

i agree with pokerdummy, take it to an auto store and get a systems check or whatever it's called. i think autozone does it for free

From Advanced Auto Parts page:

FAST, FREE Electrical Testing!
We'll make sure your battery, alternator, and starter are working properly.

Then you can go from there.

GELATINOUS CUBE · 12-07-09, 04:49 PM

What does that mean smitch? How can a car lose amps when it is turned off?
and how could he solve that problem?

Oh, and how can a 2006 car be giving you so much attitude?

sickler · 12-07-09, 04:49 PM

Good advice in this thread. Drive it.

My parents had the same problem with a newish car and the mechanics told them the same thing. Battery problems were because the car wasn't used enough.

Also, Mudcat, don't have other stuff on when attempting to start the car (radio, heater, etc...).

poker_dummy101 · 12-07-09, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by NOLAKid

Is anyone on here a mechanic?

it depends what you want to know

MrMonkey · 12-07-09, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by pavyracer

You need to drive it at least 20 minutes once a week to not have starting problems.

Mudcat, Pavy's correct again! Until I first went away for about 10 days and car wouldn't start without a jump didn't know about this? Don't be shutin, take a walk to your car!

smitch124 · 12-07-09, 04:55 PM

A 2006 car with have a computer that may have a shorted module, or sometime any other short can drain the battery. Any number of things may not turn off properly. To find the newer car problems you may have to bring it in.

I used to remove fuses until I found the system that was causing the problem.

james4512 · 12-07-09, 04:58 PM

you must live in alaska because hat would not happen in any warm weather climates

wal66 · 12-07-09, 05:09 PM

Mudcat, do you have any after market electronics? Like an amp, or a plug-in device or an after market sterio? If you have any of these types of devices depending on how they were wired in the could be recieving constant trickle feed. Over time an non-use as you stated with your car sitting in the underground this will draw the battery down. If you have any of these devices I have mentioned or any other tpe of after market devices that require a power source you need to check it out.

This may not be the cause but it is certainly worth investigating. I didn't read all the responses so if someone already said this , opppps.

losturmarbles · 12-07-09, 05:23 PM

turn your headlights on and try to start the car. if the headlights stay on (goes dim) but the engine won't turn over, then you probably just need a better battery, one that has a higher CCA (cold cranking amps) rating. if the headlights go out, then you probably still need a better battery, but it may not be recharging like it should.

you may consider next time you change your oil to use a synthetic oil. better for cold weather starting, and better for vehicles that do a lot of sitting.

daggerkobe · 12-07-09, 05:28 PM

Either drive it once a week or disconnect the battery.

I just had two cars that wouldnt start due to not driving for couple of weeks.

JoshW · 12-07-09, 05:34 PM

I wish I had a better answer, but long term, try to find a mechanic friend. Even if you pay him, you won't get f'd over.

I thought my engine was going last week. It sounded horrible. Couldn't drive it, had to pull over immediately as whole car was shaking violently. Took it to friend, 30 bucks for time and to replace a spark plug that was causing an arc that was taking out of the cylinders. I know shit about cars, but 30 bucks instead of thousands made my week.

Steeve · 12-07-09, 05:41 PM

To add to Wal66's post above, it sounds like you park your car away from where you are. Do you have an alarm on it? An alarm will be drawing power from the battery (especially if people set it off while you are away). If this is the case, you probably need to drive it more than the others on here are suggesting.

The other options are to park it near an outlet and connect a trickle charger to maintain your battery's juice, or bring one of the large "jump boxes" that have been suggested above. The trickle chargers are simpler and more reliable, IMO.

Mudcat · 12-07-09, 06:10 PM

Originally posted by emoney

Get a trained dog to drive the car for twenty minutes a day.

I like this solution on multiple levels.

Seriously, thanks for all the responses.

I don't have after market electronics. I'm not even sure about the car alarm question. I'm pretty sure it came with one but I haven't done anything extra in that regard.

I did replace the battery once.

Some of the discussion went over my head however I feel like I'm on solid ground in thinking I should drive the car more. It won't be so hard in the winter because it is quickly getting worse for bike riding anyway. I'll have to remember next spring to take the car instead of the bike once in awhile.

Or else accept that I'm going to have this problem once a year or so.

emoney · 12-07-09, 08:44 PM

Thanks for the points mudcat. I will try to put them to good use. I am beginning to think that you are the only one on this site that has a sense of humor.

flyingillini · 12-07-09, 09:50 PM

The Problem is the make of the car. You need to get a real car. I drive a Lexus and Mercedes. Orale Guey

sickler · 07-29-10, 11:05 PM

We need an update on this.

Doug · 07-29-10, 11:24 PM

I like the trickle charger idea.

Plugs into your cig lighter, lays on the dash, uses solar power, so it needs to be outside.

MJFtheGenius · 07-30-10, 12:18 AM

Maybe it needs gas??

Skidcom · 07-30-10, 07:15 AM

I dealt with the same problem for a year (finally bought a new car). I just disconnected the battery. Take the lead off the positive (red) post when not driving it for a few days. My problem was that there was a small short/drain on the battery. This is a real pain to find. The diagnostic can cost a couple hundred just to find the short. So......just disconnect the battery when not using.