Today, I had to borrow my mom’s car to jump-start my battery-dead car. I got everything set up and it worked. Parked my mom’s car back into her spot, went into my car. And turned it off. Now I have to do it all again. FML
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Thanksgiving
Questions about your love life, a burnt turkey and the cousin who knows everything: Thanksgiving, a contact sport.
Today, I left my lights on in my car, which I only realized at lunchtime, so I made sure to turn the lights off, and tried to start it. The battery was dead, so I called my dad to jump start it before I got back from my game. I later came back from the game and the lights were on. He'd left the lights on after jump starting it. FML
Today, I was trying to do a nice thing and let my friend's mom borrow my car. I went to move my mom's car that was parked behind me so that I could get my car out, and then proceeded to back into my dad's new company car. FML
Today, I got into my car and it wouldn't start. I noticed I had left the lights on and assumed the battery was dead. Then, I couldn't get my key out of the ignition. So, I called AAA only to have the guy put my car in park and start the engine. FML
Today, I pulled into a parking lot, for the car to simply shut off because I ran out of gas. Then I couldn't get the key out of the ignition, so I called my dad, who walked all the way to where I was, only to find out that the car was still in drive. FML
Today, I went to drive my mom's car for a change. It wouldn't start, so I open the hood. Someone had stolen the battery. I go to start my own car so I can drive to the police station to report the theft, and discover someone siphoned off my gas. FML
Today, I picked up my car from the repair shop, drove two miles, and ran out of gas. I then walked to get gas, put a gallon of gas in the car, and tried to start it. The battery was too weak to start the car, and died on the spot. FML
Today, after a snowstorm, I went to start my car early in the morning for work. The door was frozen solid, so I had to jimmy it open with a screwdriver. Then, as I started to drive off, my foot slipped off the clutch and the car stalled out. The battery was too weak to start it again. FML
Today, my car wouldn't start because of the cold weather. Since I was at a friend's house, I asked him to jump-start it. After taking about ten minutes to start his vehicle and park it by mine, we found that both of our car hoods were frozen shut. FML
Today, I had to jump into my car while it was still moving. Apparently, just because you put it in park and turn it off, doesn't mean it won't take off towards a ditch without warning. FML
Today, I bought a new $10,000 car since my old one broke down. Today, I also found out the old one wasn’t starting because i never had it in park. FML
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Top comments
Chazzster 32
Unless you left your lights on and the engine off for a very long time or the car has not been run in a couple of weeks or more - Chances are if your battery is dead, it’s dead. While you can jump start a weak battery, once it’s on the decline it’s probably failed. You can jump start your car and go to your local car parts dealer and they will test and replace your battery - Usually for no extra charge over the battery price itself. Most of the time lead acid car batteries last about 3 years. First aid for automotive lead acid batteries: (1) Make sure the car is started and run at least 10 minutes once a week if you are no longer commuting. (2) Make sure to always turn your headlights off and shut the doors when you get wherever you are going. (3) If your battery connections are corroded or loose even a good battery will not crank the car or take a charge. The positive terminal is especially prone to corrosion. If you see visible corrosion as a “first aid” first rinse off the terminals with Diet Coke - The phosphoric acid dissolves the corrosion. Then wiggle and tighten the terminals so they now make a good connection. Later wipe up the mess around the battery terminals and spray the contacts with WD-40 to keep it from further corrosion. Lead Acid Battery safety notes: (1) Lead is a toxin, be careful to wash it off your hands and do not put hands or fingers in mouth until hands are cleaned. (2) The liquid in the battery itself is highly acidic. Fortunately most are sealed now. But if you crank over and over and over the battery can become hot enough to boil out. That is very dangerous. (3) The 12 Volts typically used in a automotive lead acid starting system will not shock you. You can touch it with your BARE hands. But if you short with a metallic object from the automotive frame or battery negative terminal to the battery positive terminal it can draw a lot of current and give you arcs and sparks - Do not do that! Take off rings, watches, bracelets while you work on the battery so you won’t get hurt from an accidental short circuit. By the way - I am an electronic engineer…
GlennQugmire 14
At least that’s something you can easily do.
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Comments (5)
GlennQugmire 14
At least that’s something you can easily do.
bradG 9
Go to autozone and buy a new battery with your mom’s car
dreams2383 20
for next time your suppose to leave a car running for a little while after a jump to charge it. if still doesn't hold a charge get a new battery
Grumpy Jack 27
I was about to write something similar. Let the empty battery charge a little or get a new one !
RichardPencil 32
Just drive your mom's car and tell her that your car is actually hers. If she gives you any pushback, start a discussion of senile dementia.
Chazzster 32
Unless you left your lights on and the engine off for a very long time or the car has not been run in a couple of weeks or more - Chances are if your battery is dead, it’s dead. While you can jump start a weak battery, once it’s on the decline it’s probably failed. You can jump start your car and go to your local car parts dealer and they will test and replace your battery - Usually for no extra charge over the battery price itself. Most of the time lead acid car batteries last about 3 years. First aid for automotive lead acid batteries: (1) Make sure the car is started and run at least 10 minutes once a week if you are no longer commuting. (2) Make sure to always turn your headlights off and shut the doors when you get wherever you are going. (3) If your battery connections are corroded or loose even a good battery will not crank the car or take a charge. The positive terminal is especially prone to corrosion. If you see visible corrosion as a “first aid” first rinse off the terminals with Diet Coke - The phosphoric acid dissolves the corrosion. Then wiggle and tighten the terminals so they now make a good connection. Later wipe up the mess around the battery terminals and spray the contacts with WD-40 to keep it from further corrosion. Lead Acid Battery safety notes: (1) Lead is a toxin, be careful to wash it off your hands and do not put hands or fingers in mouth until hands are cleaned. (2) The liquid in the battery itself is highly acidic. Fortunately most are sealed now. But if you crank over and over and over the battery can become hot enough to boil out. That is very dangerous. (3) The 12 Volts typically used in a automotive lead acid starting system will not shock you. You can touch it with your BARE hands. But if you short with a metallic object from the automotive frame or battery negative terminal to the battery positive terminal it can draw a lot of current and give you arcs and sparks - Do not do that! Take off rings, watches, bracelets while you work on the battery so you won’t get hurt from an accidental short circuit. By the way - I am an electronic engineer…