Idiot moment - Left my interior car light on for a day

Mr. Ali · 11-12-2007, 03:12 PM

And when I went to turn on my car this morning, it wouldn't start

Lucky I remembered there was something you can plug into your cigar lighter that will charge your battery. I got a ride to walmart, bought one for $50, got home and had it plugged into my car for about 2 mins and it told me the battery now has enough juice to turn on and BAM, the car started up.

I am thinking of keeping this car charger thing for the future but I would really like my $50 back since I am a cheap bastard. What do you think? Keep it or return it?

Chainblade · 11-12-2007, 03:16 PM

heh i've done that before.

never heard of that charger thing though. that sounds cool. seems kind of expensive though. maybe return it and get it online for cheaper.

jake · 11-12-2007, 03:35 PM

I say keep it. Charge it up and throw it in the trunk.

Juballharshaw · 11-12-2007, 03:49 PM

Well you've proven you're a car noob already so might as well keep it for when it happens again.

j0k3r · 11-12-2007, 03:52 PM

My wife does that all the time. It's mostly the kids' fault though. I bought her a very similar device for her car.

~~Electric_Head~~ · 11-12-2007, 04:00 PM

Thats a pretty neat device when nobody is around for a jump start.

You said you got a ride to walmart....why didn't you just jumpstart your ride with that ride?

sims · 11-12-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric_Head

Thats a pretty neat device when nobody is around for a jump start.

You said you got a ride to walmart....why didn't you just jumpstart your ride with that ride?

thats what I was thinking :P $5 jumper cables will accomplish the same thing.

Mr. Ali · 11-12-2007, 05:42 PM

car batteries scare me, so attaching jumper cables to two batteries and not knowing which way they plug onto each battery and knowing exactly what you have to do in jumping a car did not sit well with me.

cured · 11-12-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chainblade

maybe return it and get it online for cheaper.

+1

~~Electric_Head~~ · 11-12-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Ali

car batteries scare me, so attaching jumper cables to two batteries and not knowing which way they plug onto each battery and knowing exactly what you have to do in jumping a car did not sit well with me.

For future reference. Connect the red cable to the red terminals on each battery, and the black cable to the black terminals on each battery. Then, turn the key. Then, disconnect the cable from the terminals, be careful not to touch either of the cable ends together or it will make a big spark.

Mr. Ali · 11-12-2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric_Head

For future reference. Connect the red cable to the red terminals on each battery, and the black cable to the black terminals on each battery. Then, turn the key. Then, disconnect the cable from the terminals, be careful not to touch either of the cable ends together or it will make a big spark.

Thanks, I guess it would be a good idea to learn this for the future, i might just return what i have and buy some jumper cables.

mistawiskas · 11-12-2007, 09:18 PM

you mean you had a 1D-10T error?
I've got a rechargable power tank that'll jump a car, has a huge assed spot light, blinking red light and radio with a siren. i haven't had to use it yet, but it's peace of mind just having it. it also will power 9v, 6v, 3v, and two 12v items for 17 amp hours.

Phant0m51 · 11-12-2007, 10:30 PM

Yup, you always put Positive to Positive, and Negative to Negative. What it does is basically 'Pushes' the current into the weaker battery.

tweakmonkey · 11-13-2007, 01:42 AM

I think everyone's done that before, at least a couple of times.

If charging/jumping won't get your car started it was probably time for a new battery anyway.

Chris · 11-13-2007, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric_Head

For future reference. Connect the red cable to the red terminals on each battery, and the black cable to the black terminals on each battery. Then, turn the key. Then, disconnect the cable from the terminals, be careful not to touch either of the cable ends together or it will make a big spark.

Car battery jumper cable sparks are awesome.

Really fun to scare the shit out of people with.

Scooby · 11-13-2007, 03:22 AM

Man, getting your car jumped is always kinda embarrassing. This would save you from that. But then again for $50 i'd have just bought a new battery and said fuck it....

j0k3r · 11-13-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric_Head

For future reference. Connect the red cable to the red terminals on each battery, and the black cable to the black terminals on each battery. Then, turn the key. Then, disconnect the cable from the terminals, be careful not to touch either of the cable ends together or it will make a big spark.

That is actually a bad idea. The negative cable of the bad vehicle should be grounded to the vehicle.

1. Turn off all accessories (heat, ac, radio, etc.)
2. Connect the positive good battery
3. Connect the positive bad battery
4. Connect the negative good battery
5. Connect the negative bad to a grounding spot on the vehicle (shiny, not painted metal, scrape off a little paint under the hood somewhere if you need to)
6. Start the cars, let them run for about 5 minutes
7. Disconnect everything in the reverse order

~~Electric_Head~~ · 11-13-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0k3r

That is actually a bad idea. The negative cable of the bad vehicle should be grounded to the vehicle

Only if your battery has been sitting for years and years in the car, would it be a bad idea. Not enough hydrogen would buildup overnight for an explosion to occur.

j0k3r · 11-13-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electric_Head

Only if your battery has been sitting for years and years in the car, would it be a bad idea. Not enough hydrogen would buildup overnight for an explosion to occur.

You might have a leaky car battery and not know it.

Home > Discussion > Gearhead Garage Idiot moment - Left my interior car light on for a day
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11-12-2007, 03:12 PM	permanent link to #1
Mr. Ali Lord Of Porn Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA, USA Posts: 3,672 (#18 ) My photos: 56 Thanked 6x in 6 posts	And when I went to turn on my car this morning, it wouldn't start Lucky I remembered there was something you can plug into your cigar lighter that will charge your battery. I got a ride to walmart, bought one for $50, got home and had it plugged into my car for about 2 mins and it told me the battery now has enough juice to turn on and BAM, the car started up. I am thinking of keeping this car charger thing for the future but I would really like my $50 back since I am a cheap bastard. What do you think? Keep it or return it?
	"As a Ford owner, trust me when I say, you will never regret anything more in your life than buying a Ford over a Toyota." - Dan T3D

Yesterday, 05:30 PM	#2
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11-12-2007, 03:16 PM	permanent link to #2
Chainblade Tweak Minion Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 2,316 (#43 ) My photos: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	heh i've done that before. never heard of that charger thing though. that sounds cool. seems kind of expensive though. maybe return it and get it online for cheaper.
	Main PC: AMD Sempron 3100+, Geforce FX5500 128MB, 1GB RAM, Sony SDM-S81 18inch LCD Monitor, Ubuntu 8.04 Storage PC: Intel Pentium 4 2.26Ghz, Geforce FX5500 128MB, 1GB RAM, 1TB USB 2.0 Hard Drive, Windows XP Pro SP3 Gaming PC: Pentium 4 3.0Ghz, Geforce 7800 256MB, 2GB RAM, Dell E207WFP 20inch LCD Monitor, Windows XP Pro SP3 Work PC: Macbook Pro Personal Phone: T-Mobile MDA Work Phone: AT&T Tilt Vehicle: 1992 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4, 31x10.5x15 Tires, 1994 Rims, Flowmaster 40 Exhaust

11-12-2007, 03:35 PM	permanent link to #3
jake Vagabond Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 2,322 (#42 ) My photos: 67 Thanked 1x in one post	I say keep it. Charge it up and throw it in the trunk.
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11-12-2007, 03:49 PM	permanent link to #4
Juballharshaw ¡pɹɐpuɐʇs ploƃ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 52 ǝʇɐʇsɹǝʇuı ˙s˙n Posts: 2,971 (#29 ) My photos: 99 Thanked 15x in 10 posts	Well you've proven you're a car noob already so might as well keep it for when it happens again.
	6002 '10 ʎlnɾ 'ɯɹǝds ʎʞɔnl uo 'ƃolq s,ʍıʞuɐɯ ƃǝɹƃ "˙qnlɔ ɯɹǝds ʎʞɔnl ǝɥʇ ɟo sɹǝqɯǝɯ" sǝɔuɐʇsɯnɔɹıɔ ʎɥʇlɐǝʍ uı dn ʍoɹƃ oɥʍ ǝsoɥʇ ƃuıllɐɔ 'pıɐs [ʇʇǝɟɟnq uǝɹɹɐʍ] "'ɥʇlɐǝʍ ɔıʇsɐuʎp uı ǝʌǝılǝq ʇ,uop ı "

11-12-2007, 03:52 PM	permanent link to #5
j0k3r El Chupacabra Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,013 (#49 ) My photos: 50 Thanked 16x in 9 posts	My wife does that all the time. It's mostly the kids' fault though. I bought her a very similar device for her car.

11-12-2007, 04:00 PM	permanent link to #6
~~Electric_Head~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,939 (#51 ) My photos: 21 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Thats a pretty neat device when nobody is around for a jump start. You said you got a ride to walmart....why didn't you just jumpstart your ride with that ride?

11-12-2007, 05:42 PM	permanent link to #8
Mr. Ali Lord Of Porn Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA, USA Posts: 3,672 (#18 ) My photos: 56 Thanked 6x in 6 posts	car batteries scare me, so attaching jumper cables to two batteries and not knowing which way they plug onto each battery and knowing exactly what you have to do in jumping a car did not sit well with me.
	"As a Ford owner, trust me when I say, you will never regret anything more in your life than buying a Ford over a Toyota." - Dan T3D

11-12-2007, 09:18 PM	permanent link to #12
mistawiskas outside the box! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 14,992 (#2 ) My photos: 358 Thanked 9x in 9 posts	you mean you had a 1D-10T error? I've got a rechargable power tank that'll jump a car, has a huge assed spot light, blinking red light and radio with a siren. i haven't had to use it yet, but it's peace of mind just having it. it also will power 9v, 6v, 3v, and two 12v items for 17 amp hours.
	Say goodbye to our beloved planet. Because there is alot more money to be made in emitting greenhouse gasses, than curtailing emissions. Get out of the box, then recycle it.

11-12-2007, 10:30 PM	permanent link to #13
Phant0m51 From Utah, NOT mormon Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 1,271 (#75 ) My photos: 19 Thanked 1x in one post	Yup, you always put Positive to Positive, and Negative to Negative. What it does is basically 'Pushes' the current into the weaker battery.
	"We both got fucked over on that part and not in the rememberable go brag to your friends way, no, no, this is the you cry tears and try to pretend you are someplace else sodomy type." -Joe "Women are odd like that... one day they confess to love you, the next day you wake up to a beep beep beep sound of a garbage truck backing up and picking up the garbage can she put you in." - Joe

11-13-2007, 01:42 AM	permanent link to #14
tweakmonkey Chief Webologist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 4,688 (#11 ) My photos: 414 Thanked 30x in 17 posts	I think everyone's done that before, at least a couple of times. If charging/jumping won't get your car started it was probably time for a new battery anyway.

11-13-2007, 03:22 AM	permanent link to #16
Scooby rubblerubble Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,335 (#15 ) My photos: 5 Thanked 2x in 2 posts	Man, getting your car jumped is always kinda embarrassing. This would save you from that. But then again for $50 i'd have just bought a new battery and said fuck it....

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