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Original poster

What are you doing about your cars?

82 replies

QuestionableMouse · 27/03/2020 10:31

Mine hasn't moved for the best part of two weeks. I have no essential reason to go out but I'm thinking about going for a quick drive just to keep the car ticking over. (Can do a loop, up to the motorway and back) I really don't want a flat battery if I do need to go out because I don't have anyone to jump start it!

OP posts:

AgeLikeWine · 27/03/2020 13:30

I agree OP. Taking the car for a decent run to top up the battery is probably a good idea if it hasn’t moved for a fortnight. Cars left in airport car parks for this length of time often have flat batteries due the alarms & security systems draining current.

Original poster

QuestionableMouse · 27/03/2020 13:30

Honestly I haven't been further than a (slow) ten minute walk from my house for two weeks. Going for a quick drive feels very low risk, especially as I didn't even stop 😂

Is my car new and fancy? Nope. But it's been damn reliable, has happily got me through deep snow, flooded roads and mud and does ~500 miles a week without letting me down.

OP posts:

CallmeAngelina · 27/03/2020 13:32

I had a completely flat tyre the other day and the breakdown guys came out within the hour to the house. We didn't have any close contact at all - I unlocked the car from the window and waved at him - he fixed it and phoned me for a couple of queries and when it was done.
Zero exposure for both of us.

Original poster

QuestionableMouse · 27/03/2020 13:33

I don't have a drive as such and its a diesel so don't really want fumes near the houses.

OP posts:

playthestation · 27/03/2020 13:37

It's an automatic so can't be jump started if the battery is dead

You can jump start an auto, you cannot bump start. Common mix up.

Would just having it turned on on the drive be acceptable as opposed to driving it?

If you turn it in and don't drive it your battery power will deplete faster.

Think of it as you are lifting your mobile phone. Every time the screen lights up and you use it the power is draining. You charge it. Every time you start up your car and leave it idling, the power is draining - you need to drive it to charge it.

ArriettyJones · 27/03/2020 13:38

Mine is a motability lease car. I am tempted to give her a quick spin tonight. Neither she nor I have left the house for a week. (I can’t do strolls.) She’s basically my legs and I’m starting to stress a bit about it.

playthestation · 27/03/2020 13:40

That said I am not advocating going for a drive. I am just trying to explain why starting your car up is not just a waste of time but actively wastes more battery power then leaving it alone.

filka · 27/03/2020 13:40

I live abroad but have a home in the UK and a car that I come back to about every 3-4 months. It's so simple - install a battery isolator switch like this:
www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/battery-accessories/halfords-battery-isolator-switch-hef390-869552.html

The car has never failed to start first time.

Taking a short run or revving on the drive is not a good policy. If the exhaust system doesn't get up to full temperature then you get a lot of condensation and it rots and rusts.

So on a one-time basis (in the current environment), go on an essential trip that runs the car up to temperature, park it up and disconnect the battery.

Peridot1 · 27/03/2020 13:43

I’ve been wondering about this too.

Ours was serviced and MOT done a couple of weeks ago and they said the battery was a bit low and recommended a long run in it. Which we didn’t get to do.

It’s been out a few times since. Longest run about ten mins each way.

Going to local farm shop tomorrow but might go a long route to get there.

I assume that will be ok as I will be out for food which is within guidelines.

Won’t need to go out again for a week or so hopefully but will use DS’s car then to keep his battery going.

CallmeAngelina · 27/03/2020 13:43

PlaytheStation, That's not right. Your car battery will charge when idling. ... Your alternator produces electricity when the engine is running, so as long as your car engine is on (as opposed to just the ignition) and your alternator is working properly, the battery will be charged.

Your phone analogy is only relevant to trying to use the car's gadgets (e.g. radio etc) whilst the key is turned only one notch in the ignition. If the engine is running, it is re-charging itself.

Hence why, when the AA man got mine going recently at home, he said to leave it running for at least 20 mins. He said I didn't need to actually go out anywhere.

playthestation · 27/03/2020 13:48

Not getting into an argument over technicalities but people switching their cars on and idling them for a while once a week will fuck with the batteries. They are better left alone.

vhs95 · 27/03/2020 13:50

misscockerspaniel

And in that link the RAC say:
'If you need to use your vehicle and it doesn’t start, you can still call us for assistance.'

I think I'd prefer to take it out for a drive than have an RAC mechanic coughing all over me.

CallmeAngelina · 27/03/2020 13:53

Not getting into an argument over technicalities Then don't mis-state false or misleading facts and then bugger off then!

crazydiamond222 · 27/03/2020 13:56

The risk in taking a car for an unnecessary drive is that you have an accident and increase the pressure on the NHS and other services

HoneyBee03 · 27/03/2020 14:00

I don't see any harm in taking the car for a quick drive, most people seem to be taking their cars out regularly to buy food, drop relatives to work, etc.

ArriettyJones · 27/03/2020 14:01

The risk in taking a car for an unnecessary drive is that you have an accident and increase the pressure on the NHS and other services

Which is an extremely low risk on a local, low-speed drive. For most drivers, anyway. A lot of people have never been involved in any kind of RTA.

Original poster

QuestionableMouse · 27/03/2020 14:01

I'm usually anxious but I just can't get worked up over the odds of having an accident on extremely quiet roads, in good conditions, in a well maintained car.

I'm probably more likely to go arse over tit down the stairs 😂😂😂

OP posts:

myusernamewastakenbyme · 27/03/2020 14:05

Yes exactly..im more likely to fall down my stairs or hurt myself using garden tidying equipment than i am to have a car accident on the very quiet rural roads that i live near...seems common sense has gone out of the window.

crazydiamond222 · 27/03/2020 14:16

I think it is a very selfish attitude to take. Yes the roads are quieter but this is becuase most people are not worrying about flat batteries and are more concerned about the abilty of the nhs to treat them when they get ill.

Yes you are more likely to have an accident at home but I am many are being very careful to minimise that risk as well becuase I know I may not be able to rely on an ambulance coming to treat me at the moment.

playthestation · 27/03/2020 14:20

Then don't mis-state false or misleading facts and then bugger off then!

There is no need. It's not misleading to tell people, very basically, that they are wasting their time switching their cars on and idling them for a bit. Over time this will only lead to the battery draining. I'm not stating any facts, I know how an alternator works. I'm saying to people not to waste their time. Leaving it alone will be no worse than idling once a week.

You don't get to tell me to 'bugger off', I have as much right to post as the next person. Don't be so bloody rude. You are not the post police.

CallmeAngelina · 27/03/2020 14:28

I didn't tell you to bugger off! Re-read what I actually wrote.

CallmeAngelina · 27/03/2020 14:29

To be clear, I said you have stated misleading facts and then have buggered off saying "I'm not arguing about it." An entirely different thing.

megletthesecond · 27/03/2020 14:31

I must drive mine. I've barely touched it for a fortnight. I don't want it dead if I need it.

playthestation · 27/03/2020 14:33

I did read that incorrectly

I didn't 'bugger off' though

Anyway, the reason I said 'not getting into an argument' was to avoid exactly what has happened.

Apologies to all.

crazydiamond222 · 27/03/2020 14:36

Here is advice from the AA on what to do with your car during coronavirus restrictions
www.theaa.com/driving-advice/laying-up

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