# Car Problem--Urgent

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-problem-urgent/509103>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 6, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-problem-urgent/509103 "2009-09-06T22:33:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-problem-urgent/509103/21 "2009-09-08T02:38:41Z")

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> [@Erdosain](#):
>
> You’ve never had a battery in a new car last longer than three years? That sounds quite unusual.

Maybe I am unlucky with cars or maybe it’s because we have such cold winters but it’s not like they put the best batteries in at the factory. I suppose most times I could have made them last a little longer but once one dies twice I replace it.

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**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-problem-urgent/509103/22 "2009-09-08T05:32:48Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> I’ve never heard this before. Are you thinking of the damage that would occur if an alternator tries to charge a defective battery? Then it would run at full capacity all the time (effectively running hot)

The alternator job is to maintain the battery. I am not saying it will damage it, but there is a good possibility.

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-problem-urgent/509103/23 "2009-09-08T07:23:36Z")

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> [@Gbro](#):
>
> It can be very hard on the alternator to just jump start a dead battery. It should be charged up with a battery charger if that is passable for you to do.  
> The little note that comes with a new alternator cautions that the battery must be at full charge before starting.

That’s nonsense. When driving at night with all lights turned on, radio, heater, etc. the current delivered by the alternator would be comparable to that when charging a dead battery.

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