# Dead Battery **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** batteries\ **Created:** [February 8, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849 "2012-02-08T18:25:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![akopman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@akopman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/akopman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/1 "2012-02-08T18:25:24Z")
My battery keeps dying (it’s only 6 months old). If I jump start it everything is fine for that day. However, I only drive the car once a month and when I come back it is kaput again. How long do you have to drive a car to fully recharge the battery? How long can a battery sit idle? My Lexus dealer can find nothing wrong with the battery or electrical system. The cars is 12 years old otherwise is perfect condition. 82,000 miles ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/2 "2012-02-08T18:33:47Z")
Your best bet would be a Battery Tender trickle charger. [www.batterytender.com](http://www.batterytender.com) I have a 93 Caprice that gets driven occasionally (every 2 or 3 weeks). When it is driven, I put 40 to 60 miles on it for the day (no short trips). On top of that I use my Battery Tender once a month or so to top off the battery. The battery is ten years old and starts the car every time. I check the battery voltage and load test it on a regular basis, but I should replace it. Depending on the alternator to charge a depleted battery puts a lot of stress on it. A Battery Tender is less expensive than a new battery or alternator. Ed B. ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/3 "2012-02-08T20:19:42Z")
Yes, you are a good candidate for a trickle charger. A modern car has a lot of live electrical systems even when it just sits around going nowhere. It is reasonable to assume a good battery can be drained in a month. A trickle charger should solve your problem. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/4 "2012-02-08T20:33:56Z")
I agree with the crowd. I’d expect a car to start after two or three weeks, but a month is pushing it. If you have a power outlet that’s hot all of the time, it might be convenient to get a battery tender that plugs in there. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/5 "2012-02-08T21:32:21Z")
Make mine another vote of support for the trickle charger. ---
**Author:** ![t-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@t-man](https://community.cartalk.com/u/t-man)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 7:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/6 "2012-05-02T07:43:32Z")
I had my battery go flat every week in my volvo. The battery was fairly new, it got charged up and then went flat again - drove me nuts. It turned out that after some very hot days (48C) here in Oz, the glovebox door/hatch had warped, so that when the hatch shut, the internal light (inside the glovebox) was still on. Once I realised (by listening to the ‘click’ of the switch), I added some padding to inside the hatch to ensure that when the glovebox door shut, the light went out - ta da!! no more flat batteries!!. And yes, the mechanic can measure these things too, by the way…😉 ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 9:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/7 "2012-05-02T09:01:20Z")
Your dealer should have been able to tell you that a car sitting for a month without being driven is a prime candidate for a dead battery. There are certain functions on the car (clock, ECM, security system, etc) that draw electrical current while the car is not being used. My vote is for a battery tender. ---
**Author:** ![FordMan1959](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@FordMan1959](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FordMan1959)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 9:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dead-battery/70849/8 "2012-05-02T09:01:57Z")
Here’s what I use on lawn equipment and my motorcycle batteries during the winter and the battery is always fully charged when spring arrives. About the same thing as a Battery Tender, but at a fraction of the cost. I’ve owned several of them for 5+ years and they’re all still working. Just plug it in and leave indefinitely. > **[Automatic Battery Float Charger](https://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html)** > > Keep your 12 volt automotive battery in top condition even when your vehicle is in storage. The automatic battery float charger has a floating circuit to maintain a full charge without overcharging. Easy to use, simply connect your battery and plug...