If I'm getting a low battery message on my car, should I just try letting it run for 30 minutes?

How old is the battery?

This is my new “pre-owned” car so I don’t know. It should be fine.

I would call the dealer you got the car from. If you run the car (as per your post) and that doesn’t fix it, it’s going to be three day weekend with no car and the dealer possibly closed. I’d call the dealer now (Friday afternoon). It should be a warranty issue.

@jca2 That really isn’t what I was asking. I did call the dealer already.

Is it cold where you are? Older batteries tend to have issues in the cold. Running the engine should sort it out but it may come back if it stays cold.

@Lightlyseared It was very cold over Christmas but has been fairly mild the last few days.

If your battery warning light comes on whilst you’re driving, it means that your battery is no longer being charged by the alternator and is running only on its own charge. That means that your car is only running on battery power that will eventually run out. I would call roadside assistance (if you have an at home policy) and explain the problem to them.

@flutherother and @jca2 It will be the dealers’ problem to fix; @jca2 is right. I just took delivery of the car yesterday and it is under warranty.

I guess my question now is can I drive it locally while the low battery charge comes on or not?

I would trust it only to drive it to the dealer, @janbb I’d be afraid it wouldn’t start, and I’d be afraid of harming the alternator (as the alternator and the battery each do different tasks but they kind of work in cahoots with each other).

@jca2 Well, they have valet service so they’ll pick it up at some point but it is discouraging at the moment. I’m sure it will be fixed but I was enjoying having my “newish” car.

Possibly, the battery has a date on it, you could lift the hood and see if it’s easy to see a date. If it’s two plus years old it could be getting weak.

I’d probably get the battery tested. You don’t want to get stuck in the winter. If it’s a new used car from a dealer, I would take issue with the dealer for selling you a car with an old battery. Maybe at least they will do the labor for free to put in a new one. It takes a few minutes to put in a new battery.

You shouldn’t have a low battery warning unless maybe you left the lights on by accident while you had the car off for a bit when running into a store and on start up you had a low battery warning.

Or, if you didn’t use your car for a couple of weeks and when first starting it the battery might have been low from not using the car.

Low battery can be from an old battery, bad alternator, and now with the newer technology there can be other reasons regarding how the car reads the battery charge.

@JLeslie She just got the car yesterday (used, but new to her).

Drive it around to have the alternator charge the battery and then to an auto parts store and buy yourself a portable jump charger for about a hundred bucks. Keep it in your car.

If your battery dies, you can use the jump start battery to start the car. There is one of three things that are an issue:

1) The car was just sitting around for awhile and the battery just needs to charge up
2) You need a new battery
3) Your alternator is failing.

If it’s #2 or #3 it’s not an issue as it’s under warranty. But I still would have the jump starter in the car just in case.

Something else that’s really helpful is belonging to AAA. They will come give you a jump start if ever you are stuck (even if you’re in a car that’s not your own, as a passenger or borrowing soemone else’s car).

@jca2 I do.

You can try running it for a half hour, and you can also most auto parts stores that sell batteries can do a meter check to see if you need a new battery or the alternator is the culprit,and most times they will check it for free for you.

@jca2 Oh, yesterday?! From a dealer? If it is low again tomorrow I’d drive right back to the dealer (assuming it isn’t very far) and have them do a diagnostic. Hopefully @janbb has a warranty. I didn’t read all of the answers.

No. Have a mechanic check it out. It could be a loose fan belt. If the battery is about 5 years old it is due to be replaced before it leaves you somewhere when it won’t start the engine. For added reliability, get a battery with the most cold cranking amps.

There is a problem with your alternator most likely. If that is the case, running the car won’t help, and your car won’t make the drive to the dealers. If it does run for 15 minutes or so, without stalling, then you’re getting some charge, at least, and you can probably risk driving it out there. If it’s up to the dealership, they should probably just sent a tow truck.

One thing to remember is newer vehicles require set amount of volts to run the vehicles ECM (computer) and if it doesn’t get it ,it will shut the vehicle down unlike older vehicles that would keep running on a totally dead battery.

The letting it run thing will recharge it. However, batteries degrade in their capacity to deliver charge over time. Take your car to an autoparts store. Most large chain autoparts stores (like Advance for example is the one I use) will test your battery and if necessary your alternator FOR FREE. They will install a new battery if necessary if you buy it there.

So do the 30 min thing if you left the lights on all night or something….but if it seems to have no cause, and the battery is old, do the autoparts store before you lose the ability to start the car.

If you let it run and it doesn’t charge you know you have a bad alternator or bad battery. I think they are the most likely problems. If you let it run and it charges, you may still have a battery that needs a replacement and will eventually fail to be able to start the car. Go anywhere that’s open and get it checked.

@janbb: What did the dealer determine was the problem with your car?

@jca2 It just was picked up today so I’ll find out soon.

Update: The salesman brought the car back today. They put in a new battery.

well hopefully that will work.

That’s terrific news!

I don’t remember where you live (this is LonelyHeart807 by the way, but I lost my login, so I’m back under a new name.) In the U.S., there are a number of places you can take your car where they will analyze your low battery alarm for free. It could be the battery or the alternator, or something much simpler. But do get it checked out!

Ugh! Nevermind, I just now saw your update.

Hi Lonelyhearts Good to see you!

Hi @janbb ! It’s good to be back! It’s been a hectic few years, and I can’t even remember when I was last on.

^^ I think it might have been just after your Mom died.

@janbb Yeah, it could have been. And then I’ve had to figure out where I’m moving to, and then we were trying to get the house ready to sell, and all that process took time.