Didn’t I just buy a battery four months ago? And wasn’t I stranded out of town when the battery decided to die? I understand that you don’t buy a new car because the battery was dead and the battery in my car was old and we should have changed it before it died and left me needing help but we weren’t paying attention.
This morning we were going to meet friends for lunch. I said “Let’s take the Highlander because it hasn’t been driven in over a month.” Vince grabbed the keys and when he opened the car door, he pushed the button to slide the seat back. Nothing! He said “This isn’t good!”
Nope . . battery is dead. Before the Auto Zone people installed the new battery in August, they checked the alternator and it was fine. I thought I was being super careful about unplugging the ipods and GPS but . . I wasn’t. The GPS was left plugged in and it’s been over a month since we used the car so the battery just got drained. I googled it and yes, that’s probably what happened.
We took the Honda to eat and then Vince put the charger on the car and within a few minutes, the battery was charged.
Just to be sure the battery isn’t defective and, it was the GPS, we’ll take it to Auto Zone on Monday and get it checked.
I’m so glad we decided to drive it and I didn’t go out there at 5 a.m. on the day I was leaving and find I have a dead battery.
I’m trying to figure out why the GPS was plugged in. I know I unplugged it when I got home from MO in October and I don’t think we’ve been anywhere that we would have needed it since then but .. it was plugged in so it’s probably the culprit.
Poor car! We really do need to use it more.
Cilla says
The trading cars statement made me laugh as I have done just that. A car needed a new AC. It was 8 yrs old. Trade it. Only a few months ago my 4 year old car needed 4 new tires. Yep, traded it.
Judy Laquidara says
We don’t do that. We just don’t drive them enough to justify that huge expense. Even the tires on my Highlander dry rotted before we wore them out. We certainly don’t get rid of our house when it needs a new roof or new carpet or a new a/c, or even foundation repair.
My car has been sitting out there for over a month and hasn’t been touched. It would be real hard to spend money on a new car knowing the most use it gets is a place for a cat to sleep.
KAy Sorensen says
Are you sure cat didn’t plug in the GPS
Linda in NE says
My car got a new battery just a couple weeks ago. It hadn’t died completely yet but was getting very weak. In our cold weather that isn’t good. I got the car seven years ago and I’m assuming it had a new battery. Seven years is pretty good for a battery. The mechanic who put in the new one told my husband that new batteries are only rated to last four years. Gotta keep us spending money on new ones, I guess.
Nelle Coursey says
We had to buy a new battery for our car this Thursday. First one we have bought for our 2016 Jeep. So I guess it was about time! Then on Friday we got in the car and I asked Pat if the time was right! I thought it was later than it said. Come to find out it was almost an hour late! Pat checked the battery and there was a nut they left off the battery. I drove back to the place we got it and they put a new nut on it and it is doing well now. Just an oversight on the part of the guy putting it on.
Kathleen Schwitzner says
You just need to put it on you to-do list to drive it up and down your ‘driveway’ every week. Makes all the difference.
Susan Nixon says
Hey, I’m not trading my 10 year old car! I just paid $1000 bucks for a new front bumper! It looks good, too. =)