I have changed the car battery on my Renault Grand Scenic and used the car that day on the sunday. However 3 days later the car wo

The car had a flat battery and I changed this on the Sunday morning. That Sunday afternoon I used the car for around 30 mins and it was used on Monday. It was not used for two days and on the Wednesday when I tried to use it there are no lights on the dash. I tried opening the door using the fob and nothing opened. But I managed to open the door, Having looked under the bonnet all the connections to the car battery are still intact. Once I closed the bonnet and pressed the fob the car doors shut.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thank you for writing in. If the new battery has also failed to hold a charge, the alternator is likely not working correctly. You can test the alternator at home with a voltmeter, or you can remove it and have it tested at most automotive parts stores. It will need to be replaced if it has failed. You will also want to make sure all of the electrical connections are clean, dry, and tight. For more help testing or replacing the alternator, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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About four to eight hours at highway speeds is what it takes to actually charge a car battery. However, it will never reach 100 percent while you`re driving.
This can be caused by overcharging, undercharging, or leaving the battery in a discharged state for too long. A battery that doesn`t hold a charge is frustrating and can happen for many reasons. It could be an issue with the batteries themselves or a problem with the charging system.
One significant reason why a car battery won`t hold a charge is age. Obvious signs that your battery is too old and worn out include corrosion and cracking. If it`s at least four years old, then it should probably be replaced. For younger batteries, a car that isn`t started for days or weeks can also lose its charge.
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Car Battery? If you have jump-started your car, it is recommended to let your vehicle run for at least 30 minutes because it would typically require at least half an hour to charge a dead battery entirely or at least sufficiently.
While idling older vehicles for 15-20 minutes may give them enough of a charge to restart, this approach is generally not recommended. Many modern cars are equipped with sophisticated battery management systems that are designed to help extend battery life.
Generally not required,. if the alternator is replaced within a short time after the frequent discharge of the battery. However, if it was used for a longer time, the battery may need replacement as it may not be able to hold charge.
You`ll need to turn off your vehicle in order to start a charge. After you`ve started the charge, you may be able to turn power back to run the heat or radio, but power steering and the ability to move the vehicle will be disabled until you`ve stopped charging.
It takes most vehicles about 30 minutes of driving at highway speeds to fully recharge the battery. Keep in mind that 30 minutes is an average. If your battery is severely discharged, it may take even longer to recharge it.
Does the Battery Charge if You Let the Car Idle? The simple answer to this question is yes, your car`s battery will start to charge as long as your engine is running.
Defective charging system – A car battery drains quickly if something called the alternator on your charging system fails to push out enough voltage, ideally between 13.5 – 14.5 volts. In this case, the battery will continue to drain even while the car is running.
The battery will charge faster if you rev the engine faster. Why? Because the faster the crankshaft turns, the faster it turns the belt that runs the alternator. And the faster the alternator turns, the more electricity it produces to run all the electrical stuff in the car — and recharge the battery.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I have changed the car battery on my Renault Grand Scenic and used the car that day on the sunday. However 3 days later the car wo
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. If the new battery has also failed to hold a charge, the alternator is likely not working correctly. You can test the alternator at home with a voltmeter, or you can remove it and have it tested at most automotive parts stores. It will need to be replaced if it has failed. You will also want to make sure all of the electrical connections are clean, dry, and tight. For more help testing or replacing the alternator, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

Water was spilled in the trunk which soaked the car battery. Car won’t start now. Does water destroy a car battery?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in about the concern with the BMW 320i. If the battery was submerged in water then it’s completely possible for the battery to short out and die. Your friend will need to have the battery replaced. Also be sure to get all of the water out of the trunk. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, help you guys out if you need assistance with replacing the battery. Good luck.

When changing the car battery, do you "register" the battery to the car computer?
ANSWER : Hi there. Changing the battery has nothing to do with programming a battery. If the car was flat dead with a battery that lost all of the power because the dome light was on, then when jumped the vehicle will run fine. What may need programmed when the battery is replaced is the key fob. The key fob will lose programming to the computer as the vehicle computer is reset. However, if a 9 volt battery saver was put into a cigarette lighter and the car battery was removed, then the computer will not lose its memory and be just fine. If you need further assistance with your battery, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

I have changed battery. I think I put non compatible battery initially and it’s start car alarm loud not turned off with remote ac
ANSWER : As long as the nominal voltage of the battery is 12 volts, it’s compatible. Of course, you need sufficient energy storage capacity, too, which in your case is probably around 850 cold cranking amps. As long as you did not reverse the positive and negative terminals (reverse polarity) when you installed the first battery, the battery is not incompatible. When new batteries are installed, inasmuch as any computer settings are lost, there can appear to be electrical problems, but such are not a fault of the battery. If, for example, you are having problems with the engine immobilizer system (security system) you may see a security warning light on the dash. If the warning light is on, to temporarily override the immobilizer system, see these instructions.

If you are experiencing electrical problems with other components, please simply request an electrical system diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Battery drained and car key couldn’t open car door.
ANSWER : Hi there. The battery is draining for a parasitic load applied to the battery over night. This will drain the battery to needing a charge or needing a replacement. If the alarm was installed and it was for a newer vehicle, as long as the wiring is correctly installed into the vehicle, the year of the alarm should not matter. The alarm was probably installed on the wrong circuit causing the other circuit to have a load applied to it when the key is turned off. I recommend disabling the alarm and see if the battery does not discharge. If so, then hook up the alarm to a different circuit isolating it from any other circuits. If you need further assistance with your battery draining, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

2005 Chrysler 300C changed battery and alternator. Car started, ran, and then battery light came on. Shut car off and wouldn’t start.
ANSWER : Hi. There is a couple of things that could be wrong here. The battery or alternator that was just installed could be defective. Theses parts need to be tested for proper operation. There also could be a fuse, fusible link, or wiring for the battery or charging system that is blown or broken causing the battery light to come on.

The codes that you have will cause the car to shut down, run rough, or not start at all. The crankshaft sensor and camshaft sensor should be replaced. I suggest having a certified technician from YourMechanic come diagnose the charging system and check engine codes to help you proceed with correct repairs.

Can I add motor oil to my car now if I will not use the car for several days, or wait until the day I will use it?
ANSWER : I would add it now. This way you don’t drive it in a couple of days if you forget to put the oil in it. Better to be safe and add it now. If your vehicle leaks out oil without running the engine, or it leaks when you do run it, then have the car inspected to find the source of the leak so it can be repaired. YourMechanic can send a qualified technician to your home or work to pinpoint the source of your oil leak.