Solid-Question-3952 t1_j1sxmk5 wrote
LPT: your engine idling doesnt effect your batteries so its clear you dont fully understand cars or the way mechanics work. Also, the vast majority of mechanics warranty their work and if you have an issue that is actually caused by their work they will fix it. You have no idea how many "ever since" people they deal with everyday complaining about problems that have nothing to do with the work they just did and they try to help them out anyway. Example: "eversince you changed my oil my rear brakes squeek." "Eversince you replaced my rear axel my front tire leaks."
If you are worried about the battery let it idle before you turn it off, no need to drive around putting more wear and tear on your vehicle.
Edit: In almost all cars in the last 15 years, any power from your doors being open cuts after a few minutes to avoid an accidentally drained battery. So mechanics working with your doors/trunks open wont matter. If your car started when you picked it up, driving home should have been more than enough to charge it battery (unless you like 3 minutes away). If you had a dead battery the next day either you have a bad alternator or most likely, your battery is going bad. Keep an eye on it.
TheMasterBaker01 OP t1_j1sz37r wrote
The idling point is fair even though you're being a dick about it, so I edited my post. My point isn't that mechanics are doing shotty work, but that sometimes through their work it can leave your battery low, so driving it around will give it an efficient charge as well as test out what they fixed to confirm things are running smooth.
Solid-Question-3952 t1_j1szr9v wrote
Happy cake day.
No, shotty work wont cause that. And driving around another 10 minutes wont fix it. Im sorry you disagree. Customers always know more than the mechanics they bring their vehicles to. Its amazing. Im not trying to be a dick. Yeah, there are shitty mechanics just like crappy people in every profession. But the vast majority of mechanics and shops are good people who actually like fixing vehicles and want to help. And what you're saying just isnt a Life Pro Tip because its not true.
TheMasterBaker01 OP t1_j1t0469 wrote
I'm speaking from the experience of having this happen twice now that I've either gotten my car back with a weak battery or dead altogether. Last time I was there they had to jump me. It's just a part of the job that they can leave doors open or stuff going while they're working. I'm not holding that against all mechanics or saying they're bad for doing it, just that if you go to the mechanic, give your vehicle some extra time on the road to be safe and sure as possible. Otherwise you end up like me having to jump my car on Christmas in >10 degree weather.
neildmaster t1_j1t6sg8 wrote
Maybe you need to replace your battery?
Solid-Question-3952 t1_j1tvpyn wrote
Lol can't possibly be the most likely mechanical option. Must be someone else's fault.
Solid-Question-3952 t1_j1tw9nt wrote
You probably have a battery issue. Unless your car is 20 years old (and maybe it is) if they leave a door open, your car will automatically cut the power and all the lights will go off and stop using your battery. You can leave your car door open for 3 days and start it perfectly. Thats how cars have been designed for years. If you needed to be jumped when you left a mechanic and they didnt try to figure out why or suggest you need to replace a battery (or alternator) please dont go back there.
You dont know how to fix your car, so you bring it into people you must trust to do the job for you. And you are assuming these people who know more about cars than you, dont think about or realize what drains the battery and what that will cause? Im sorry you had it happen to you so many times but this isnt something that happens on a normal or even semi-normal basis for people.
Crepuscular_Oreo t1_j1wktgd wrote
>Unless your car is 20 years old (and maybe it is) if they leave a door open, your car will automatically cut the power and all the lights will go off and stop using your battery.
I wasn't going to comment because I was a mechanic back when cars were not rolling computers and there weren't so many power-sucking components. I haven't kept up on the technology over the years.
I did the math once (back then) and calculated you would have to run your radio and dome light for something like a week to use the same amount of power you use to start your car once. I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was a long time.
Most cars can start the engine multiple times in rapid succession. Think about when you park at a store, shut off your engine, and find yourself too close to a pole to open your door so you start it up again and move a few inches and try to get out again. Then you get back in the car and start the engine to drive to the gas station next door, shut the car off and fill up, then start the engine again to drive somewhere else. If your car won't do that, you need a new battery.
Solid-Question-3952 t1_j1wl8t4 wrote
Can you say it louder for those in the back???
NecessaryPen7 t1_j1wayj4 wrote
That means your battery was shit or dead.
Virtually zero mechanical shop is going to have any effect on a newer battery.
Obvious life tip: find a good mechanic
ForceOfAHorse t1_j1tzjt0 wrote
Just because somebody points out your lack of knowledge on a subject while you give tips on this subject doesn't make they "are dick about it".
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