Battery -- Fully Discharged...

[SoxMan]

My battery on my '03 X5 completely discharged overnight (left the lights on). Never happened before. I jumped it and drove it for 45 minutes. Everything seems fine.

My question: should I re-charge the battery with a re-charger, even though it's already charged to some extent via the alternator? Or, will it just gradually fully re-charge as I keep driving?

I'm worried that I could end up putting stress on the alternator... I just installed a new one last year.

Other option: should I just replace the battery at this point -- it's the original one. If so, any recommendations on after-market brands?

(BTW, I haven't checked how charged it is yet... I know there's a way via the dashboard, right? Assuming it's partially charged at this point...)

[Boston X5 4.4]

Originally Posted by SoxMan

My battery on my '03 X5 completely discharged overnight (left the lights on). Never happened before. I jumped it and drove it for 45 minutes. Everything seems fine.

My question: should I re-charge the battery with a re-charger, even though it's already charged to some extent via the alternator? Or, will it just gradually fully re-charge as I keep driving?

I'm worried that I could end up putting stress on the alternator... I just installed a new one last year.

Other option: should I just replace the battery at this point -- it's the original one. If so, any recommendations on after-market brands?

(BTW, I haven't checked how charged it is yet... I know there's a way via the dashboard, right? Assuming it's partially charged at this point...)

8+ years on the orig. battery with NE winters?.....you were def. on borrowed time. There is a thread on here re. battery brand recs.

[SoxMan]

Originally Posted by Boston X5 4.4

8+ years on the orig. battery with NE winters?.....you were def. on borrowed time. There is a thread on here re. battery brand recs.

7 years...

Thanks -- just found that list of brands. I think I'll change it, just to be safe.

[nikosf]

The battery full discharged. I turn on the engine with a charger. Then I recharged the battery. The fueltank is full but the fuel gauge shows "empty" and the yellow light is on.The extrenal temperature shows -18 C.The Fuel consumption meter is Frozen to 0 .Any idea?
Thanks in advance

[nikosf]

Originally Posted by nikosf

The battery full discharged. I turn on the engine with a charger. Then I recharged the battery. The fueltank is full but the fuel gauge shows "empty" and the yellow light is on.The extrenal temperature shows -18 C.The Fuel consumption meter is Frozen to 0 .Any idea?
Thanks in advance

After 50 meters driving everything are OK

[bowin]

Not trying to hijack the thread. I could not find how to post new thread from iPad software.
I am in the process to replace the battery as it is 8 years old. I am thinking to connect the battery charger/maintainer to the + terminal at engine bay and negative to body while replacing it in order to save the memory and other troubles encounter during this process.

Any advise or suggestion is appreciated.

[dkl]

No need to hook up the charger during battery swap. Only things that needed to be reset after the swap are the clock and turning the steering wheel lock-to-lock to reset a few systems (dash lights).

[Ghost-Flame]

Because this was an old battery that was discharged the advise to replace is just what I would do.

However for those that might be wondering what to do if it was newer say 2 to 4 yrs old. I would charge with a low amperage battery tender over night or 8 or 9 hours. This way you have a good starting point for your alternator to work with. The alternator will bring it to full charge over time probably (depending on the load) but, you're never sure when. newer cars really suck up volts while running. Think of the alternator as an auxiliary/helper part that sends charge to the battery as electricity is being consumed by any load, any leftover juice will be stored in the battery.

So by slow charging it fully overnight you start out with a fresh tank of electrons.