Hey everyone, I’m in a bit of a bind! My alternator is acting up, and my car died on me after work today. I’m supposed to trade it in tomorrow, but I was wondering if I could just charge the battery to get it running for a short drive. Would that work, or should I consider a quick alternator fix before trading it in? Any advice would be really appreciated!
A fully charged battery should be enough to start the car and drive it for a short distance. Just make sure you don’t let it idle for too long, as the alternator won’t be able to recharge it if it’s bad.
If you’re trading it in soon, a quick charge might work, but be honest with the dealer about the alternator issue. They’ll likely test the battery and alternator before finalizing the trade.
You might want to do a quick alternator fix if you have the tools and time. It could save you from a headache later, especially if the trade-in process takes longer than expected.
Honestly, if the trade-in value is decent, it might be worth it to just charge the battery and let it go. Dealers usually factor in repairs when valuing trade-ins.
If you go the charging route, make sure you have jumper cables or a charger handy. Better to be prepared just in case it doesn’t hold the charge long enough!