Keys left in overnight / dead battery / what now?

Quick help...
After a long and exhausting day at the beach I completely spaced and left my keys in the f%$@# ignition. The truck wasn't running, I simple turned the power on to close the windows. Ran back inside and left the keys in the ignition in the "on" postion. Now the truck won't start.

So my question: Do I need a new battery or can I get a jump from my wife and be totally fine? There is still some juice - I can open the windows - but that's it.

 

Jump it and let is run a bit, to charge itself up.

 

Just get a jump to start it. Let it run for about 10-15 minutes then turn it off. Try and start it again, if it works your battery should be fine, if not take it to autozone or advance and have them test the battery

 

Jump it and go! If it was a good battery before it ran down, it should recover just fine. Get it started and let it run a while.

 

Thanks all. It's jumped and working fine.

 

I am going to suggest charging the battery with a battery charger. The alternator in modern vehicles was not designed to charge drained batteries. Your alternator needs a 12.5v+ power supply to function properly.

 

In any event, a jump from the wife is always palliative.

 

^^^ That is what I was thinking.

 

^^ Exactly. So many people, enthusiasts included, still don't get this. Alternators charge under a load, not at idle. I read a technical article a while back that said a vehicle needs approximately 20 minutes operating under load to reach what was referred to as a "break even charge", which is the point at which the alternator has recharged what was used to start the engine.

 

Jump it and at least go drive it around. Otherwise, charge it and then still go drive it around some. Does no good either way to just get it running as was stated. Start it, idle it, leave it sit overnight and possibly have to do it again in the morning.

 

I'm not totally sold on this. It takes me 4-5 minutes to drive to work and I only ever drive longer than 20 minutes once in a blue moon and I've never had an issue with a dead battery. Not tryin to start problems just stating my experience

 

I've experienced the same. I'll take a guess and say maybe most batteries live in these conditions and are usually operating close to the edge? This could explain why batteries tend to go dead so quickly after about five years? I had the same battery life experience in my Durango which I'd purchased new, about five years, then dead without much warning. My '05 Viper still has the original battery, but it is always on a charger.

 

in an emergency, like sitting at the beach..jump start it and go. your alternator wont love it, but should survive. i wouldnt to it often.

if the vehicle is at home, dead. charge it up with a trickle charger. your alternator will appreciate it.

 

Well 48 hours later still no issues. I jumped it, let it run about 20 minutes, shut it off, got the kids dressed, started it right up, went to breakfast ... this morning the truck started right up again. Battery is only 2 years old. On my next oil change I'll have them test the battery to be safe.

 

I'll just go with...............I have a garaged car that gets driven only in fair weather and barely enough to keep it alive. There are times I went too long (month or 2?) without driving it and the battery would be just shy of having enough juice to crank and I would put charger on it and start it right up. Now if I just let it idle for 20 minutes or so even revving it like I was driving it, the battery would be back dead within a couple of days if I didn't actually drive it. But if I did drive it around 10-20 miles or so then it'll make it for 2-3 weeks and still start up without issue. My take is that it is better longterm for charging the battery if you actually go drive it around rather than just letting it sit and idle for awhile.