Why doesn't some genius invent a car battery that will warn you before it dies?

[raccoon]

This morning I got in my car, turned the ignition....nothing.

A neighbor took me to work and somebody else is going to take me home.

There is the possibility it's something else but I don't think so.

[HopeHoops]

1. Cars have had gas guages forever and people STILL run out of gas.

[dr.strangelove]

2. Well

It depends on how new your car is. Assuming that no drawing source was left engaged, (like a door light, radio or some other light) and its a traditional engine, an older car really should tell you. It will get noticeably harder to start your car. Of course newer cars are supposed to have battery warning lights, so they should tell you this too. I've never had a new car, so I really would not know if those things work. But in my 1986 mustang and the F-150, I know weeks before the battery is dead.

[RebelOne]

3. My 1999 Taurus has a battery warning light. n/t

[csziggy]

4. Maybe the battery isn't bad

In the last two months, both our cars showed up dead when we needed to go somewhere.

Hubby's car wouldn't start when he was ready to leave for Atlanta for Labor Day weekend. He'd spent a couple of hours cleaning it, sorting out the CDs in the changer, making sure he had up to date maps, etc. Ran the battery down. He took my car to Atlanta and I got AAA out to jump his, took it into a auto parts store where they ran diagnostics on the battery, starter and charger with a little box. No problem and he hasn't had any since then.

A couple of weeks ago I got in my car and it was dead. It turned out that the stupid "make up" light on the visor was staying on since the stupid cover on the damned mirror was broken. We took the bulb out of the thing and no problem ever since.

The really annoying part is apparently it is impossible for hubby's car to be jumped or to jump another car. We tried to jump it with mine, nothing. The AAA guy said some newer cars are set up that way so you don't fry the onboard computer, but that they will let a jumper box like he carries around work. When mine was dead, his wouldn't give it any juice, but a friend with an older truck jumped it, no problem. That really sucks, to have one good vehicle but still have to call for assistance!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Before buying a battery, check the connections

If they're corroded, even a little, it can look like a bad battery.

:hi: